THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINLYNA 

PRESENTED  BY 

W.  L.  Long 


CB 

J77k 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


I         00032193340 

This  book  must  not 
be  fl-aken  from  the 
Library  building. 


Form  No.  471 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES. 


^Yjz 


THE  LIFE  OF 

JOHN    PAUL   JONES 

EDITED  AND  COMPILED 

By  JAMES  OTIS 


Written  from  Original  Letters  and  Manuscripts  in  pos- 
session of  His  Relatives,  and  from  the  Collection 
prepared  by  Henry  Sherburne,  together 
with  Chevalier  Jones'  own  Account 
of  the  Campaign  of  the  Liman 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,     J^     J^     S'     ^ 
jt      ^      ^      PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1900,  by  A.  L.  Burt. 


THE  LIFE  or  JOHN  PAUL  JONES. 
By  James  Otis. 


PKEFACE. 

Paul  Jones  was  an  extraordinary  man,  and  was 
engaged  suddenly,  after  having  been  in  a  compara- 
tively humble  employment,  in  a  career  connected 
with  events  which  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
civilized  world.  Setting  aside  the  services  rendered 
by  him  to  the  cause  of  American  freedom,  there 
would  be  no  need  of  preface  or  explanation  in  pre- 
senting an  account  of  his  life,  and  selections  from 
the  most  interesting  portions  of  his  correspondence 
to  the  public  at  large,  were  it  not  that  several  works 
have  already  been  published. 

The  first  which  the  editor  of  the  present  work  re- 
members to  have  seen  was  a  work  in  cheap  paper 
form,  in  which  was  a  frontispiece  representing  Paul 
Jones  as  large  as  the  frigate  he  bestrode,  shooting 
a  Lieutenant  Grubb  with  a  horse-pistol  more  grand 
in  its  dimensions  than  any  piece  of  artillery  intro- 
duced into  the  picture.  This  juvenile  reminiscence 
would  be  hardly  worth  recalling  were  it  not  that 
later  the  writer  saw  in  a  well-known  magazine  a 
detailed  account,  purporting  to  be  a  biographical 
sketch  of  somebody  who  had  recently  died,  who 
had  served  under  Paul  Jones  in  the  Serapis,  describ- 
ing  the  latter  as  shooting  this  Lieutenant  Grubb, 

y 


^ 


vi  PREFACE. 

with  the  same  horse-pistol  in  the  manner  above 
specified. 

As  no  Lieutenant  Grubb  ever  sailed  under  the 
orders  of  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  and  as  no  such 
person  could,  in  consequence,  have  been  shot  by 
him,  it  is  evident  that  an  unvarnished  and  full  account 
of  the  rear-admiral's  life  ousfht  to  be  circulated  in 
regions  where  such  fabulous  and  monstrous  legends 
obtain,  in  this  age  of  light,  admission  into  public 
prints. 

Many  years  ago,  a  large  quantity  of  original 
papers  belonging  to  the  legatees  of  Paul  Jones  were 
sent  to  this  countrv  with  a  view  to  their  beinof 
properly  connected  and  published.  They  were  sub- 
mitted to  the  Historical  Society  of  New  York.  The 
committee  who  examined  them  found  that  tbey 
were  valuable  and  interesting ;  but  circumstances 
prevented  their  publication  at  the  time.  Mr.  Sher- 
burne, register  of  the  United  States  navy,  opened 
a  correspondence  with  the  owners  of  these  docu- 
ments, with  the  view  of  preparing  a  life  of  Jones ; 
but  the  negotiation  failed. 

Shortly  after,  some  of  the  Chevalier's  manuscripts 
belonging  to  his  legatees,  if  they  had  known  how 
and  where  to  reclaim  them,  were  accidentally  found 
by  a  gentleman  of  New  York,  in  a  house  in  the  city. 
They  had  been  left  in  the  custody  of  its  former 
proprietor.  From  these,  with  copies  of  letters  and 
documents  on  file  in  the  department  of  state,  Mr. 
Sherburne  prepared  a  volume  which  was  published 
in  1825. 


PREFACE.  vii 

Some  singularly  capricious  demon,  wonderfully 
ingenious  in  producing  puzzling  and  painful  dis- 
order, seems  to  have  presided  over  the  arrangement 
of  the  materials.  The  appearance  of  order  in  some 
parts  of  the  compilation  only  makes  the  general  and 
particular  entanglements  more  perplexing;  and  in 
some  places,  the  person  who  connected  the  docu- 
ments did  so  in  the  most  reckless  chronological 
manner. 

From  this  chaos  a  clever  writer  in  England  con- 
trived to  select  materials  for  a  small  book  which 
was  published  by  Murray.  It  contained  some  er- 
rors ;  but  was,  on  the  whole,  entertaining. 

In  1830  a  third  life  of  the  Chevalier  appeared, 
published  in  Edinburgh  in  two  volumes,  and  was 
the  best  which  had  then  been  compiled,  since  it  con- 
tained among  other  pertinent  matter  a  translation 
of  the  Admiral's  personal  narrative  of  the  campaign 
of  the  Liman.  In  that  work  the  following  account 
is  given  concerning  the  author's  material : 

"  By  his  will,  dated  at  Paris  on  the  day  of  his 
death,  Paul  Jones  left  his  property  and  effects  of  all 
kinds  to  his  sisters  in  Scotland  and  their  children. 
Immediately  on  his  decease  a  regular,  or  rather  an 
official,  inventory  was  made  of  his  voluminous  papers, 
which  were  sealed  up  with  his  other  effects,  till 
brought  to  Scotland  by  his  eldest  sister,  Mrs.  Tay- 
lor, a  few  months  after  his  death.  They  have  ever 
since  remained  in  the  custody  of  his  family,  and  are 
now,  by  inheritance,  become  the  property  of  his 
niece,  Miss  Janette  Taylor,  of  Dumfries.    They  con- 


Viii  PREFACE. 

sist  of  several  bound  folio  volumes  of  letters  and 
documents,  which  are  officially  authenticated,  so  far 
as  they  are  public  papers ;  numerous  scrolls  and 
copies  of  letters ;  and  many  private  communications, 
originating  in  his  widely  diffused  correspondence  in 
France,  Holland,  America,  and  other  quarters. 
There  is,  in  addition  to  these,  a  collection  of  writings 
of  the  miscellaneous  kind  likely  to  be  accumulated  by 
a  man  of  active  habits,  who  had  for  many  years 
mingled  both  in  the  political  and  fashionable  circles, 
wherever  he  chanced  to  be  thrown. 

"  The  Journal  of  the  Campaign  of  1788,  against 
the  Turks,  forms  of  itself  a  thick  MS.  bound  volume. 
This  Journal  was  drawn  up  by  Paul  Jones  for  the 
perusal  of  the  Empress  Catharine  II.,  and  was  in- 
tended for  publication  if  the  Eussian  government 
failed  to  do  him  justice.  He  felt  that  it  totally  failed ; 
but  death  anticipated  his  long  contemplated  purpose. 
To  this  Journal,  Mr.  Eton,  in  his  survey  of  the  Tur- 
kish empire,  refers,  as  having  been  seen  by  him.  It 
was,  however,  only  the  official  report,  transmitted  by 
Paul  Jones  to  the  admiralty  of  the  Black  Sea,  that 
this  gentleman  could  have  seen.  This  singular  nar- 
rative, which  so  confidently  gives  the  lie  to  all  the 
Eussian  statements  of  that  momentous  campaign,  is 
written  in  French.  In  the  following  work  the  lan- 
guage of  the  original  is  as  closely  adhered  to  as  is 
admissible  even  in  the  most  literal  translation. 
Several  passages  have  been  omitted,  and  others 
curtailed,  as  they  refer  merely  to  technical  details, 
which  might  have  unduly  swelled  this  work,  with- 


PREFACE.  ix 

out  adding  much  to  its  interest.  Much  of  the  volum- 
inous oificial  correspondence  which  passed  between 
Paul  Jones  and  the  other  commanders  during  the 
campaign  is  also  omitted." 

Besides  the  documents  named  in  the  foregoing 
extracts,  the  editor  had  before  him  the  correspon- 
dence of  Jones  with  his  relatives  in  Scotland,  from 
his  boyhood  to  his  death.  lie  has  made  but  little 
use  of  it,  as  his  extracts  from  it  are  few. 

From  the  manuscripts  in  Miss  Ta^dor's  possession, 
the  present  compilation  has  been  made.  Public 
documents  have  been  referred  to  occasionally,  and 
in  two  or  three  instances,  Sherburne's  Collection  has 
been  cited,  where  the  editor  had  not  certified  copies 
before  him. 

Kegarding  Paul  Jones,  Cooper  says  in  his  "Naval 
History  "  : 

"  That  Paul  Jones  was  a  remarkable  man,  cannot 
be  justly  questioned.  He  had  a  respectable  English 
education,  and  after  his  ambition  had  been  awakened 
by  success,  he  appears  to  have  paid  attention  to  the 
intellectual  parts  of  his  profession.  In  his  enter- 
prises are  to  be  discovered  much  of  that  boldness 
of  conception  that  marks  a  great  naval  captain, 
though  his  most  celebrated  battle  is  probably  the 
one  in  which  he  evinced  no  other  very  high  qual- 
ity than  that  of  an  invincible  resolution  to  con- 
quer. Most  of  the  misfortunes  of  the  Bon  Homme 
Eichard,  however,  may  be  very  fairly  attributed  to 
the  insubordination  of  his  captains,  and  to  the  bad 
equipment    of  his  own   vessel.    The    expedient  of 


X  PREFACE. 

running  the  Serapis  aboard  was  one  like  himself,  and 
it  was  the  only  chance  of  victory  that  was  left. 

"  Paul  Jones  was  a  man  rather  under  than  above 
the  middle  size,  and  his  countenance  has  been  de- 
scribed as  possessing  much  of  that  sedateness  which 
marks  deep  enthusiasm.  There  is  no  doubt  that  his 
eminence  arose  from  the  force  of  his  convictions, 
rather  than  from  his  power  of  combiniDg,  though 
his  reasoning  faculties  were  respectable.  His 
associations  in  Paris  appear  to  have  awakened  a 
taste  which,  whenever  it  comes  late  in  life,  is  almost 
certain  to  come  attended  with  exaggeration.  Per- 
sonally he  would  seem  to  have  been  vain  ;  a  very 
excusable  foible  in  one  of  his  education  and  previous 
habits,  that  was  suddenly  exposed  to  the  flattery 
and  seduction  of  Parisian  society.  An  affectation 
of  a  literary  taste,  that  expended  itself  principally 
in  homage  to  those  he  admired,  formed  indeed  one 
of  his  principal  weaknesses.' 

"  In  battle,  Paul  Jones  was  brave ;  in  enterprise, 
hardy  and  original ;  in  victor}'',  mild  and  generous  ; 
in  motive,  much  disposed  to  disinterestedness,  though 
ambitious  of  renown  and  covetous  of  distinction ; 
in  his  pecuniary  relations,  liberal ;  in  his  affections, 
natural  and  sincere ;  and  in  his  temper,  except  in 
those  cases  which  assailed  his  reputation,  just  and 
forgiving.  He  wanted  the  quiet  self-respect  of  a  man 
capable  of  meeting  acts  of  injustice  with  composure 
and  diguit}^ ;  and  his  complaints  of  ill-treatment 
and  neglect,  for  which  there  was  sufficient  founda- 
tion, probably  lost  him  favor   both  in  France  and 


PREFACE.  xi 

America.  Had  circumstances  put  him  in  a  situation 
of  high  command,  there  is  little  doubt  that  he  would 
have  left  the  name  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any 
naval  captain,  or  have  perished  in  endeavoring  to 
obtain  it." 

Benjamin  Franklin,  who  was  the  Chevalier's  firm 
friend,  wrote :  "  For  Captain  Paul  Jones  ever  loved 
close  fighting." 

John  Adams  declared  :  "  If  I  could  see  a  prospect 
of  half  a  dozen  line-of-battle  ships  under  the  Amer- 
ican flag  and  commanded  by  Commodore  Paul  Jones 
engaged  with  an  equal  British  force,  I  apprehend 
the  result  would  be  so  glorious  for  the  United  States, 
and  lay  so  sure  a  foundation  for  their  prosperity, 
that  it  would  be  a  rich  compensation  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  war." 

JAMES  OTIS. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGa 

I.  Early  Life 1 

IL  The  American  Navy 24 

III.  Captain  Jones'  Service 84 

rV.  A  Complaint 55 

V.  At  Whitehaven 82 

VI.  Selkirk's  Plate 97 

Vn.  Disappointment 116 

VIII.  Le  Bonhomme  Richard 132 

IX.  Battle  with  the  Serapis 163 

X.  IntheTexel 177 

XI.  The  Alliance  Frigate 206 

XII.  The  Ariel 234 

XIII.  Seeking  Duty 252 

XIV.  In  Europe 273 

XV.  Campaign  of  the  Liman 299 

XVI.  The  Gratitude  of  Kings 358 

Appendix 885 


LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY    LIFE. 

John  Paul,  afterwards  known  as  the  celebrated 
Chevalier  John  Paul  Jones,  was  born  on  the  6th 
of  July,  174:7,  at  Arbigland,  in  the  parish  of  Kirk- 
bean,  and  stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright,  in  Scotland. 
The  family  was  originally  from  the  shire  of  Fife ; 
but  it  appears  that  the  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  kept  a  garden,  the  produce  of  which 
he  sold  to  the  public  in  Leith.  His  son,  on  finish- 
ing his  apprenticeship,  entered  as  a  gardener  into 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Craik,  of  Arbigland,  in 
which  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1767.  It  is 
abundantly  proved  that  he  was  a  man  of  uniformly 
respectable  character  and  intelligence.  In  his  pro- 
fession he  exhibited  much  skill  and  taste.  The  Eng- 
lish memoir  contains  the  following  account  of  his 
family,  which  was  furnished  by  his  descendants. 

"  Shortly  after  entering  into  the  employment  of 

Mr.  Craik,  John  Paul  married  Jean  Macduff,  the 

1 


2  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

daughter  of  a  small  farmer  in  the  neighborhood 
parish  of  New-Abbey.  The  Macduffs  were  a  re- 
spectable rural  race  in  their  own  district ;  and  some 
of  them  had  been  small  landed  proprietors  in  the 
parish  of  Kirkbean,  for  an  immemorial  period.  Of 
this  marriage  there  were  seven  children,  of  whom 
John,  afterwards  known  as  John  Paul  Jones,  was 
the  fifth  ;  he  may  indeed  be  called  the  youngest,  as 
two  children  born  after  him  died  in  infancy.  The 
first-born  of  the  family,  William  Paul,  went  abroad 
early  in  life,  and  finally  settled  and  married  in 
Fredericksburg,  in  Virginia.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  man  of  enterprise  and  judgment.  Beyond 
his  early  education  and  virtuous  habits  he  coald 
have  derived  no  advantage  from  his  family  ;  and,  in 
1772  or  1773,  when  he  died,  still  a  young  man,  he 
left  a  considerable  fortune.  Of  the  daughters,  the 
eldest,  Elizabeth,  died  unmarried  ;  Janet,  the  second, 
married  Mr.  Taylor,  a  watchmaker  in  Dumfries ; 
and  the  third,  Mary  Ann,  was  twice  married, 
first  to  a  Mr.  Young,  and  afterwards  to  Mr.  Lou- 
don." 

When  John  Paul,  the  fifth  of  this  family,  after- 
guards became  the  terror  of  the  seas,  the  hero  of  a 
hundred  fearful  legends,  and  the  subject  of  admira- 
tion and  jealousy  in  the  most  brilliant  courts,  it  was 
natural  enough  that  so  modest  a  paternity  should 
neither  satisfy  the  romance  of  the  imaginative,  nor 
the  antipathy  of  the  envious  and  intimidated  ;  and 
many  stories  were  current,  some  assigning  to  him 
Mr.  Craik,  and  others  an  earl  of  Selkirk,   as  his 


EARLY  LIFE.  3 

father.  These  weak  inventions  have  long  since 
been  exploded,  though  preserved  in  the  pages  of 
fanciful  novelists.  In  answer  to  an  inquiry  of  Baron 
Yander  Capellan,  in  1779,  Jones  says,  "  I  never  had 
any  obligation  to  Lord  Selkirk,  except  for  his  good 
opinion  ;  nor  does  he  know  me  or  mine,  except  by 
character."  This  is  verified  by  the  whole  tenor  of 
the  correspondence  which  we  shall  have  occasion  to 
introduce. 

If  ever  localities  might  be  inferred  to  have  de- 
termined the  intellectual  bias  of  an  individual,  the 
birthplace  of  John  Paul,  and  the  scenery  and  asso- 
ciations of  its  vicinity,  may  be  cited  as  admirably 
calculated  to  lay  the  groundwork  for  the  restless 
spirit  of  adventure,  an  inclination  for  poetry,  and 
an  occasional  imaginary  longing  for  solitude,  study, 
and  rural  retirement,  all  of  which,  without  any  real 
inconsistency,  were  subsequently  developed  in  his 
character. 

His  father  lived  near  tlie  shores  of  the  Solwav,  in 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  beautiful  points  of 
the  Frith.  The  favorite  pastime  of  his  early  years 
was  to  launch  his  "  fairy  frigate "  on  the  waters, 
and  issue  commands  to  his  supposed  oificers  and 
crew.  At  this  time,  the  town  of  Dumfries  carried 
on  a  considerable  trade  in  tobacco  with  America, 
the  cargoes  of  which  were  unshipped  at  the  Carse- 
thorn,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Nith,  which  was 
not  then  navigable  by  foreign  vessels.  His  daily 
intercourse  with  seamen  here  tended  of  course  to 
strengthen  and  confirm  his  nascent  passion.     It  is 


4  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

also  observed  that  his  regard  for  America,  and  his 
willingness  to  descend  with  fire  and  sword,  in  her 
cause,  upon  the  shores  of  his  native  land,  which 
were  thou^^ht  unnatural,  may  have  had  their  orig-in 
in  the  conversations  of  mariners  from  the  discon- 
tented colonies. 

Certain  it  is  that  his  disposition  to  begin  his 
career  upon  the  ocean  was  so  strong,  that  his  friends 
deemed  it  proper  to  yield  to  it.  At  the  age  of 
twelve,  he  was  bound  apprentice  to  Mr.  Younger,  a 
respectable  merchant  in  the  American  trade,  resid- 
ing at  Whitehaven,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Solway 
Frith.  Yulgar  invention,  in  its  distorted  picture  of 
his  life  and  actions,  assumed  that  he  ran  away  to  sea 
against  the  will  of  his  relations,  a  rumor  which  they 
always  declared  to  be  totally  without  foundation. 
Neither  then,  nor  at  any  subsequent  period,  Avas  he 
wanting  in  affection  for  them,  and  solicitude  for 
their  welfare.  His  anxiety  for  the  comforts  and 
respectability  of  his  sisters  and  their  families  was 
warmly  and  substantially  expressed  in  his  prosperity, 
and  at  his  death  he  bequeathed  to  them  all  his 
property. 

His  education  at  the  parish  school  of  Kirkbean 
must  of  course  have  been  limited,  but  there  is  no 
doubt  he  improved  it  to  the  best  advantage.  The 
general  correctness  of  his  style  and  orthography  in- 
dicate that  he  had  been  well  instructed  in  the  rudi- 
ments of  grammar.  Notwithstanding  his  strong 
relish  for  active  and  dangerous  adventure,  he  devoted 
its  intervals  to  close  application  to  study.    While  in 


EARLY  LIFE. 


port,  whether  abroad  or  at  "Whitehaven,  during  the 
period  of  his  apprenticeship,  he  applied  himself  to 
learning  the  theory  of  navigation,  and  to  other 
subjects  of  practical  use.  Many  years  after,  we  find 
him  in  one  of  his  letters,  while  modestly  admitting 
that  much  more  accomplished  seamen  might  be 
found  than  himself,  referring  to  hours  of  systematic 
*'  midnight "  study.  In  the  letters  written  in  French, 
which  are  in  his  own  hand,  the  spelling  is  infinitely 
more  accurate  than  that  of  many  of  his  illustrious 
and  titled  correspondents.  These  circumstances 
show  that  his  mental  culture  w^as  methodically  and 
well  begun  ;  and  these  habits  of  mind  are  not  such 
as  belong  to  a  reckless  adventurer  in  quest  of  mere 
private  emolument  or  personal  fame. 

He  made  his  first  voyage  before  he  was  thirteen, 
in  the  Friendship,  of  Whitehaven,  Captain  Benson, 
bound  for  the  Rappahannock.  His  home,  while  in 
port,  was  the  house  of  an  elder  brother,  William, 
who  had  married  and  settled  in  Virginia.  His  pre- 
possessions in  favor  of  America,  and  sympathy  with 
colonial  feelings,  were  here  naturally  fostered  under 
circumstances  calculated  to  make  them  keen  and 
enduring;  indissolubly  connected  as  they  were  with 
his  first  professional  impressions. 

The  correctness  of  his  conduct,  and  his  extraordi- 
nary intelligence  and  aptitude  for  acquiring  knowl- 
edge in  naval  matters,  caused  him  to  be  most 
favorably  regarded  by  his  masters.  Mr.  Younger, 
however,  soon  found  his  affairs  embarrassed ; 
and  was  induced,  in  consequence,  to  give  up  Paul's 


6  UFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

indentures.  This  license  to  act  for  himself  would 
have  been,  to  a  boy  whose  purposes  in  living  were 
not  in  some  measure  fixed,  and  whose  will  was  un- 
decided as  to  the  future,  a  passport  to  obscurity,  if 
not  to  disgrace.  He  availed  himself  of  it  wisely, 
having  confidence  in  himself.  He  obtained  the 
appointment  of  third  mate  of  the  King  George,  of 
Whitehaven,  a  vessel  engaged  in  the  slave  trade. 
In  1766  he  shipped,  as  chief  mate,  on  board  the 
brigantine  Two  Friends,  of  Kingston,  Jamaica, 
which  was  engaged  in  the  same  traffic.  It  is  said 
by  the  friends  of  Paul  that  he  became  disgusted 
with  the  business  of  stealing  human  beings,  and  left 
the  ship  on  its  arrival  in  the  "West  Indies.  In- 
dependently of  their  evidence,  which  is  in  every 
respect  entitled  to  credit,  the  supposition  will  be 
found  to  be  confirmed  by  the  uniform  tenor  of  his 
correspondence,  whenever  he  speaks  of  the  principles 
of  action  which  he  asserts  to  have  governed  his 
services  and  enterprises.  And  it  is  fair  to  infer 
that  the  exhibition  of  these  horrors,  at  which  his 
feelings  revolted,  strengthened  his  love  for  that 
liberty  in  whose  cause  he  afterwards  fought ;  and 
for  that  land  which  knew  how  to  vindicate  the 
cause  of  liberty. 

It  is  stated,  at  any  rate,  by  those  from  whom 
alone  any  information  can  be  derived,  as  to  Paul's 
adventures  at  this  period,  that  he  returned  to  Scot- 
land from  this  second  slaving-voyage,  as  a  passenger, 
in  the  brigantine  John,  of  Kirkcudbright,  Captain 
Macadam  commander.     On  this  voyage  the  captain 


EARLY  LIFE.  7 

and  mate  both  died  of  fever ;  and  there  being  no 
one  on  board  equally  capable  of  navigating  the  ship, 
Paul  assumed  the  command,  and  brought  her  safe 
into  port.  For  this  service  he  was  appointed  by 
the  owners,  Currie,  Beck  &  Co.,  master  and  super- 
cargo. 

It  appears  that  Paul  sailed  for  two  voyages,  as 
master,  in  the  emplo}- ment  of  this  firm,  and,  some- 
time in  the  course  of  the  year  1780,  found  it  neces- 
sary, in  order  to  preserve  his  authority  and  enforce 
discipline,  to  punish  a  man  named  Mungo  Maxwell, 
borne  on  the  books  as  carpenter  of  the  vessel. 
Mungo,  being  whipped,  stated  to  the  authorities  at 
Tobago  that  his  back  was  sore,  and  that  his  feelings 
were  hurt ;  both  of  which  representations  they  seem 
to  have  believed  in,  without  feeling  themselves  called 
upon  to  heal  the  one,  or  to  soothe  the  other.  But  it 
appears  that  he  subsequently  instituted  a  prosecu- 
tion against  Paul  in  England,  which  gave  the  latter 
some  trouble,  as  will  be  seen  bv  a  letter  from  him 
to  his  mother  and  sisters,  which  we  shall  presently 
introduce. 

There  would  scarcely  be  any  necessity  of  mention- 
ing this  circumstance  at  all,  were  it  not  that  calumny 
founded  upon  it  one  of  its  grossest  charges  against 
him  who  was  afterwards  the  Chevalier  Paul 
Jones;  that  he  was  accused  by  vulgar  rumor  of 
torturing  Mungo,  by  the  process  of  flagellation,  in 
a  manner  which  caused  his  death ;  and  that  his 
enemies  did  not  disdain  to  rake  up  this  legend,  w^hen 
he  had   the  glory  and  the  misfortune   of  exciting 


8  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  jealousy  of  the  Eussian  courtiers.  All  the  au- 
thentic particulars  of  the  transaction  which  we  can 
obtain  now  are,  that  beino:  invested  with  a  leo:iti- 
mate  authority,  which  it  was  more  peculiarly  nec- 
essary for  the  preservation  of  the  vessel  and  cargo, 
on  that  account,  to  sustain,  Paul  punished  a  sailor 
for  rebellion  and  sullen  impudence;  and  that  the 
subject  of  discipline  was  displeased,  as  was  naturally 
to  be  expected.  The  following  are  the  official  doc- 
uments which  Paul  thought  proper,  or  found  it  ex- 
pedient, to  procure  in  relation  to  this  transaction  : 

"  Tobago. 

"  Before  the  Honorable  Lieutenant-Governor 
William  Young,  Esq.,  of  the  island  aforesaid,  per- 
sonally appeared  James  Simpson,  Esq.,  who,  being 
duly  sworn  upon  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty 
God,  deposeth  and  saith,  That  some  time  about  the 
beeinninn^  of  Mav,  in  the  vear  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy,  a  person  in 
the  habit  of  a  sailor  came  to  this  deponent  (who  was 
at  that  time  Judge  Surrogate  of  the  Court  of  Yice- 
Admiralt}^  for  the  island  aforesaid  with  a  complaint 
against  John  Paul  (commander  of  a  brigantine  then 
lying  in  Rockley  Bay,  of  the  said  island),  for  having 
beat  the  then  complainant  (who  belonged  to  the 
said  John  Paul's  vessel),  at  the  same  time  showing 
this  deponent  his  shoulders,  which  had  thereon  the 
marlis  of  several  stripes,  bnt  none  that  were  either 
mortal  or  dangerous,  to  the  best  of  this  deponent's 
opinion  and  belief.     And  this  deponent  further  saith. 


EARLY  LIFE.  9 

that  he  did  summon  ine  said  John  Paul  before  him, 
who,  in  his  vindication,  alleged  that  the  said  com- 
plainant had  on  all  occasions  proved  very  ill 
qualified  for,  as  well  as  very  negligent  in,  his  duty  ; 
and,  also,  that  he  was  very  lazy  and  inactive  in  the 
execution  of  his,  the  said  John  Paul's,  lawful  com- 
mands, at  the  same  time  declaring  his  sorrow  for 
having  corrected  the  complainant.  And  this  de- 
ponent further  saith  that,  having  dismissed  the 
complaint  as  frivolous,  the  complainant,  as  this  de- 
ponent believes,  returned  to  his  duty.  And  this  de- 
ponent saith  that  he  has  since  understood  that  the  said 
complainant  died  afterwards  on  board  of  a  different 
vessel,  on  her  passage  of  the  Leeward  Islands,  and 
that  the  said  John  Paul  (as  this  deponent  is  informed) 
had  been  accused  in  Great  Britain  as  the  immediate 
author  of  the  said  complainant's  death,  by  means 
of  the  said  stripes  hereinbefore  mentioned,  w^hich 
accusation  this  deponent,  for  the  sake  of  humanity 
and  justice,  in  the  most  solemn  manner  declares, 
and  believes  to  be,  in  his  judgment,  without  any 
just  foundation,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  stripes  before 
mentioned,  which  this  deponent  very  particularly 
examined.     And  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 

"James  Simpson. 

**  Sworn  before  me,  this  30th  day  of 
June,  1772,  William  Young." 

"  James  Eastment,  mariner,  an  .ate  master  of 
the  Barcelona  packet,  maketh  oath,  and  saith,  That 
Mungo  Maxwell,  carpenter    on   board  the  John, 


10  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Captain  John  Paul,  master,  came  in  good  health  on 
board  his,  this  deponent's,  vessel,  then  lying  in  Great 
Hockley  Bay,  in  the  island  of  Tobago,  about  the 
middle  of  the  month  of  June,  in  the  year  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  sevent}^,  in  the  capacity  of 
a  carpenter,  aforesaid  ;  that  he  acted  as  such  in 
every  respect  in  perfect  health  for  some  days  after 
he  came  on  board  this  deponent's  said  vessel,  the 
Barcelona  packet ;  after  which  he  v^as  taken  ill  of  a 
fever  and  lowness  of  spirits,  which  continued  for 
four  or  five  daj-s,  when  he  died  on  board  the  said 
vessel,  during  her  passage  from  Tobago  to  Antigua. 
And  this  deponent  further  saith,  that  he  never 
heard  the  said  Mungo  Maxwell  complain  of  having 
received  any  ill  usage  from  the  said  Captain  John 
Paul ;  but  that  he,  this  deponent,  verily  believes  the 
said  Muno^o  Maxwell's  death  was  occasioned  bv  a 
fever  and  lowness  of  spirits,  as  aforesaid,  and  not  by 
or  through  any  other  cause  or  causes  whatsoever. 

"James  Eastment. 

**  Sworn  at  the  Mansion  House,  London, 

this  80th  day  of  January,  1773,  before  me, 
James  Townsend,  Mayor." 

*'  These  do  certify  to  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
the  bearer,  Captain  John  Paul,  was  two  voyages 
master  of  a  vessel  called  the  John,  in  our  employ  in 
the  West  India  trade,  during  which  time  he  approved 
himself  every  way  qualified  both  as  a  navigator  and 
supercargo  ;  but  as  our  present  firm  is  dissolved,  the 
vessel  is  sold,  and  of  course  he  is  out  of  our  employ, 


EARLY  LIFE.  11 

all  accounts  between  him  and  the  owners  being  ami- 
cably adjusted.     Certified  at  Kirkcudbright  this  1st 

of  AprH,  1771. 

"  CuRKiE,  Beck  &  Co." 

The  following  is  the  letter  to  his  mother  and  sisters, 
written  more  than  two  years  after  the  affair  in  ques- 
tion, during  which  time  he  must  have  made  other 
voyages ; 

"  London,  24:th  September,  1772. 

"  My  dear  Mother  and  Sisters, — 

"  I  only  arrived  here  last  night  from  the  Grenadas. 
I  have  had  but  poor  health  during  the  voyage  ;  and 
my  success  in  it,  now  having  equaled  my  first  san- 
guine expectations,  has  added  very  much  to  the  as- 
perity of  my  misfortunes,  and,  I  am  well  assured, 
was  the  cause  of  my  loss  of  health.  I  am  now,  how- 
ever, better,  and  I  trust  Providence  will  soon  put 
me  in  a  way  to  get  bread,  and  which  is  by  far  my 
greatest  happiness,  be  serviceable  to  my  poor  but 
much-valued  friends.  I  am  able  to  give  you  no  ac- 
count of  my  proceedings  in  the  future,  as  they  de- 
pend upon  circumstances  which  are  not  fully  deter- 
mined. 

"I  have  enclosed  you  a  copy  of  an  afiidavit  made 
before  Governor  Young  by  the  Judge  of  the  Court 
of  Vice-Admiralty  of  Tobago,  by  which  you  will  see 
with  how  little  reason  my  life  has  been  thirsted  after, 
and,  which  is  much  dearer  to  me,  my  honor,  by  ma- 
liciously loading  my  fair  character  with  obloquy  and 


12  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JOIS^ES. 

vile  aspersions.  I  believe  there  are  few  who  are 
hard-hearted  enough  to  think  I  have  not  long  since 
given  the  world  every  satisfaction  in  my  power, 
being  conscious  of  my  innocence  before  Heaven,  who 
will  one  day  judge  even  my  judges.  I  staked  my 
honor,  life,  and  fortune  for  six  long  months  on  the 
verdict  of  a  British  jury,  notwithstanding!  was  sen- 
sible of  the  general  prejudices  which  ran  against  me  ; 
but,  after  all,  none  of  my  accusers  had  the  courage 
to  confront  me.  Yet  I  am  willing  to  convince  the 
world,  if  reason  and  facts  Avill  do  it,  that  they  have 
had  no  foundation  for  their  harsh  treatment.  I 
mean  to  send  Mr.  Craik  a  copy  properl}^  proved,  as 
his  nice  feelings  will  not  perhaps  be  otherwise  satis- 
fied ;  in  the  meantime,  if  you  please,  you  may  show 
him  that  enclosed.  His  ungracious  conduct  to  me 
before  I  left  Scotland  I  have  not  j^et  been  able  to  get 
the  better  of.  Every  person  of  feeling  must  think 
meanly  of  adding  to  the  load  of  the  afflicted.  It  is 
true  I  bore  it  w4th  seeming  unconcern,  but  Heaven 
can  witness  for  me,  that  I  suffered  the  more  on  that 
very  account.     But  enough  of  this.  ..." 

The  precise  nature  of  the  ungracious  conduct  of 
Craik,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  letter,  cannot  now 
be  explained  w^ith  precision,  but  may  easily  be  con- 
jectured. Paul  looked  up  to  this  gentleman  as  the 
former  patron  of  his  father,  and  existing  protector 
of  his  mother  and  sisters,  with  gratitude  and  defer- 
ence, and  probably  with  a  warmth  of  respectful  re- 
gard, which  was  chilled  by  the  mortifying  coldness 
of  a  cautious  reception,  such  as  it  is  reasonable  to  in- 


EARLY  LIFE.  13 

fer  he  may  have  met  with  from  Mr.  Craik,  to  whom 
his  conduct  had  been  misrepresented.  He  had,  no 
doubt,  taken  it  for  granted  that  his  own  simple 
statements  would  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  what  he 
calls  the  '*nice  feelings"  of  that  gentleman;  in 
Avhich  expectation  it  would  seem  that  he  was  disap- 
pointed. It  is  known  that  Mr.  Craik  subsequently 
exculpated  him  from  all  blame  in  the  affair  of 
]\rungo.  The  following  letter  appears  to  have  been 
the  last  which  Paul  ever  addressed  to  him. 

"  St.  George,  Grenada,  hth  August,  1770. 
"  Sir,— 

"  Common  report  here  says  that  my  owners  are 
going  to  finish  their  connections  in  the  West  Indies 
as  fast  as  possible.  How  far  this  is  true,  I  shall  not 
pretend  to  judge  ;  but  should  that  really  prove  the 
case,  3^ou  know  the  disadvantages  I  must  of  course 
labor  under. 

"  These,  however,  would  not  have  been  so  great 
had  I  been  acquainted  with  the  matter  sooner,  as  in 
that  case  I  believe  I  could  have  made  interest  with 
some  gentlemen  here  to  have  been  concerned  with 
me  in  a  large  ship  out  of  London  ;  and  as  these  gentle- 
men have  estates  in  this  and  the  adjacent  islands,  I 
should  have  been  able  to  make  two  voyages  every 
year,  and  always  had  a  full  ship  out  and  home,  etc., 
etc.,  etc. 

"  However,  I  by  no  means  repine,  as  it  is  a  maxim 
with  me  to  do  my  best,  and  leave  the  rest  to  Prov- 


14  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

idence.  I  shall  take  no  step  whatever  without  your 
knowledge  and  approbation. 

"  I  have  had  several  very  severe  fevers  lately, 
which  have  reduced  rae  a  good  deal,  though  I  am 
now  perfectly  recovered. 

"  I  must  beg  3^ou  to  supply  my  mother,  should  she 
want  anything,  as  I  well  know  your  readiness. 

"  I  hope  yourself  and  family  enjoy  health  and 
happiness.     I  am,  most  sincerely,  sir,  yours  always, 

"  John  Paul." 

Shortly  after  this  period,  Paul  commanded  the 
Betsey  of  London,  a  vessel  engaged  in  the  West 
India  trade.  He  has  been  accused  of  being  con- 
cerned in  the  smuggling  business,  which  was  at  that 
time  carried  on  to  a  great  extent  by  those  who 
lived  along  the  shores  of  the  Solway;  a  charge 
Avhich  he  always  solemnly  denied,  and  which  there 
is  not  a  particle  of  evidence  to  support.  On  the 
contrarj^,  the  very  first  entry  of  licensed  goods  from 
Eno:land,  made  in  the  Isle  of  Man  after  it  was  an- 
nexed  to  the  crown,  stands  in  his  name  in  the 
Custom  House  books  at  Douglas,  being  of  the  first 
rum  regularly  imported  there.  His  commercial 
speculations  in  the  AYest  Indies  were  various  and 
extensive.  In  1771  he  saw  his  relations  in  Scotland 
for  the  last  time.  In  1773  he  went  to  Virginia,  to 
arran^re  the  affairs  of  his  brother  "William,  who  had 
died  childless  and  intestate.  He  left  funds  at  To- 
baero  and  elsewhere,  which  the  faithlessness  of  his 
agents  prevented  him  from  realizing  as  he  had  ex- 


EAKLY  LIFE.  15 

pected.  He  was  soon  to  be  called  upon  to  act  in 
the  great  struggle  for  liberty,  whose  coming  events 
were  to  swallow  up  in  their  importance  the  calcula- 
tions of  private  interest. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  at  this  time  he  thought 
he  had  determined  to  devote  the  rest  of  his  life  to 
the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agriculture,  stud}^,  and 
domestic  life ;  or  as  he  phrases  it,  in  one  of  his 
favorite  quotations,  to  "calm  contemplation  and 
poetic  ease."  In  his  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Sel- 
kirk, in  which  he  affirms  that  such  was  his  fixed 
purpose,  he  also  speaks  of  having  been  led  to  "  sac- 
rifice not  only  his  favorite  schemes  of  life,  but  the 
softer  affections  of  his  heart,  and  his  hopes  of  do- 
mestic happiness."  We  have  no  data  from  w^hich  to 
infer  that  these  schemes,  affections,  and  hopes  re- 
volved around  any  ascertained  and  existing  orb 
and  center  of  attraction ;  or  that  Paul  felt  any  more 
distinct  longing  than  that  inspired  by  the  general 
lesoin  (Taimer,  proper  to  his  age  and  imaginative 
temperament.  Paul's  letters  show  throughout  that 
he  had  a  sense  of  moral  and  religious  obligation, 
tinged  with  a  true  chivalric  feeling,  such  as  does  not 
belong  to  robbers  and  cut-throats.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  in  Scotland.  We  find,  too,  that  Thomson 
was  his  favorite  poet. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  at  this  time  the  details  and 
associations  of  West  India  trading  voyages  seemed 
disgusting  to  him.  It  would  appear,  indeed,  from 
the  following  passage  in  a  letter  already  referred  to, 
addressed  to  the  Hon.  Eobert  Morris  three  years 


10  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

after  this  period,  that  his  commercial  affairs  had  be. 
come  temporarily  entangled.  He  says,  "I  conclude 
that  Mr.  Hewes  has  acquainted  you  with  a  very 
great  misfortune  which  befell  me  some  years  ago, 
and  which  brought  me  into  North  America.  I  am 
under  no  concern  whatever  that  this,  or  any  other 
past  circumstance  of  my  life,  will  sink  me  in  your 
opinion.  Since  human  wisdom  cannot  secure  us 
from  accidents,  it  is  the  greatest  effort  of  human 
wisdom  to  bear  them  well."  It  is  evident  from  his 
relations  to  the  distinguished  person  he  was  writing 
to,  from  the  frankness  of  his  language,  and  his 
subsequent  arrangement  of  all  his  obligations,  that 
this  "  great  misfortune  "  must  have  been  a  disap- 
pointment in  business,  on  which  no  shadow  of  cen- 
sure could,  without  iniquity,  be  cast.  This  disap- 
pointment, or  one  which  was  connected  with  it,  is 
probably  referred  to  in  the  letter  inserted  below, 
addressed  to  a  valued  friend,  Mr.  Stuart  Mawey  of 
Tobago,  just  before  Jones  sailed  from  Boston,  fully 
commissioned  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States  : 

"  Boston,  Uh  May,  1777. 
"  Dear  Sir, — 

"  After  an  unprofitable  suspense  of  twenty  months 
(having  subsisted  on  fifty  pounds  only  during  that 
time),  when  my  hopes  of  relief  were  entirely  cut  off, 
and  there  remained  no  possibility  of  my  receiving 
wherewithal  to  subsist  upon  from  m}^  effects  in  your 
island,  or  in  England,  I  at  last  had  recourse  to 
strano^ers  for  that  aid  and  comfort  which  was  denied 


EARLY  LIFE.  17 

me  by  those  friends  whom  I  had  intrusted  with  my 
all.  The  good  offices  which  are  rendered  to  persons 
in  their  extreme  need  ought  to  make  deep  impres- 
sions on  grateful  minds ;  in  my  case  I  feel  the  truth 
of  that  sentiment,  and  am  bound  by  gratitude,  as 
well  as  honor,  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  my  late 
benefactors. 

"I  have  lately  seen  Mr.  Sicaton  (late  manager 
on  the  estates  of  Arch.  Stuart,  Esq.),  who  informed 
me  that  Mr.  Ferguson  had  quitted  Grange  Yalley, 
on  being  charged  with  the  unjust  application  of  the 
property  of  his  employers.  I  have  been,  and  am, 
extremely  concerned  at  this  account ;  I  wish  to  dis- 
believe it,  although  it  seems  too  much  of  a  piece  with 
the  unfair  advantage  which,  to  all  appearances,  he 
took  of  me,  when  he  left  me  in  exile  for  twenty 
months,  a  prey  to  melancholy  and  want,  and  withheld 
my  property,  without  writing  a  word  in  excuse  for 
his  conduct.  Thus  circumstanced,  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  sending  you  a  letter  of  attorney  by  Cap- 
tain Cleaveland,  who  undertakes  to  deliver  it  himself, 
as  he  goes  for  Tobago  via  Martinico.  You  have 
enclosed  a  copy  of  a  list  of  debts  contracted  with 
me,  together  with  Ferguson's  receipt.  And  there 
remained  a  considerable  property  unsold,  besides 
some  best  Madeira  wine  which  he  had  shipped  for 
London.  By  the  state  of  accounts  which  I  sent  to 
England  on  my  arrival  on  this  continent,  there  was  a 
balance  due  to  me  from  the  ship  Betsy  of  nine  hundred 
and  nine  pounds,  fifteen  shill  ings,  three  pence  sterling ; 
and   in  my  account  with  Eobert  Young,  Esq.,  29th 

2 


X8  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

January,  1773,  there  appeared  a  balance  in  my 
favor  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-one  pounds,  one 
shilling,  eight  pence  sterling.  These  sums  exceed  my 
drafts  and  just  debts  together ;  so  that,  if  I  am 
fairly  dealt  with,  I  ought  to  receive  a  considerable 
remittance  from  that  quarter.  You  will  please  to 
observe  that  there  were  nine  pieces  of  coarse 
camlets  shipped  at  Cork,  over  and  above  the  quantity 
expressed  in  the  bill  of  lading.  It  seems  the  ship- 
pers, finding  their  mistake,  applied  for  the  goods ; 
and,  as  I  have  been  informed  from  Grenada,  Mr. 
Ferguson  laid  hold  of  this  opportunity  to  propagate 
a  report  that  all  the  goods  which  I  put  into  his 
hands  were  the  property  of  that  house  in  Cork.  If 
this  base  suggestion  hath  gained  belief,  it  accounts 
for  all  the  neglect  which  I  have  experienced.  But 
however  my  connections  are  changed,  my  principles 
as  an  honest  man  of  candor  and  integrity  are  the 
same;  therefore,  should  there  not  be  a  sufficiency 
of  my  property  in  England  to  answer  my  just  debts, 
I  declare  that  it  is  ray  first  wish  to  make  up  such 
deficiency  from  my  property  in  Tobago ;  and  were 
even  that  also  to  fall  short,  I  am  ready  and  willing 
to  make  full  and  ample  remittances  from  hence  upon 
hearing  from  you  the  true  state  of  affairs.  As  I 
hope  my  dear  mother  is  still  alive,  I  must  inform 
you  that  I  wish  my  property  in  Tobago,  or  in  Eng- 
land, after  paying  my  just  debts,  to  be  applied  for 
her  support.  Your  own  feelings,  my  dear  sir,  make 
it  unnecessary  for  me  to  use  arguments  to  prevail 
with  you  on  this  tender  point.      Any  remittances 


EARLY  LIFE.  I9 

which  you  may  be  enabled  to  make,  through  the 
hands  of  my  good  friend,  Captain  John  Plaince,  of 
Cork,  will  be  faithfully  put  into  her  hands  ;  she 
hath  several  orphan  grandchildren  to  provide  for. 
I  have  made  no  apology  for  giving  you  this 
trouble  :  my  situation  will,  I  trust,  obtain  your  free 
pardon. 

^•^  I  am  always,  with  perfect  esteem,  dear  sir,  your 
very  obliged,  very  obedient,  and  most  humble 
servant, 

"  J.  Paul  Jones. 
*♦  Stuart  Mawey,  Esquire,  Tobago." 

His  taking  possession  of  his  brother's  estate  en- 
couraged for  the  time  being  his  imaginary  predilec- 
tion for  still  life ;  and  he  looked  for  sufficient 
remittances  from  those  to  whom  he  had  confided 
the  management  of  his  affairs  to  enable  him  to 
realize  his  vision  of  tranquil  seclusion  from  the 
bustle  of  the  world.  In  the  latter  hope,  as  has  been 
mentioned,  he  was  disappointed;  and  from  this 
reason,  if  from  no  other,  retirement  must  have 
become  insufferable  to  a  young  man  of  his  temper, 
at  the  stirring  epoch. 

When  transatlantic  Liberty  arose, 

Not  in  the  sunshine,  and  the  smile  of  heaven, 

But  wrapped  in  whirlwinds,  and  begirt  with  woes. 

In  every  point  of  view  he  was  thus  fitted  to  act 
the  part  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  perform  in  the  ensuino- 


20  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

drama.  Nature  had  made  him  a  hero ;  circum. 
stances  had  prepared  him  to  command  men  and 
give  an  emphatic  direction  to  the  development  of 
their  energies;  and  these  qualifications,  united  with 
the  integrity  of  his  heart  and  mind,  rendered  him 
worthy  of  co-working  with  the  band  of  brave  spirits 
who  came  forth  with  free  and  uncorrupted  souls, 
and  in  the  power  and  majesty  of  truth,  to  vindicate 
the  rio^hts  which  thev  knew  how  to  exercise,  as  well 
as  to  assert. 

Though  his  education  as  a  seaman  had  been  prin- 
cipally in  the  merchant  service,  he  had  sailed  fre- 
quently in  armed  vessels;  and  how  sound  his 
opinions  were,  acquired  by  observation  or  study,  on 
the  subject  of  naval  discipline,  will  appear  from  his 
letters  to  the  continental  authorities ;  while  his 
gTeat  practical  skill  in  all  his  maneuvers  and  en- 
gagements is  perhaps  more  admirable  than  his  dar- 
ing and  desperate  courage.  One  of  his  English 
biographers  observes :  "It  is  singular  that  during 
the  first  years  of  the  American  navy,  with  the 
exception  of  Paul  Jones,  no  man  of  any  talent 
is  to  be  found  directing  its  operations.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  exertions  of  this  individual,  who  was 
unsupported  by  fortune  or  connections,  it  is  very 
probable  that  the  American  naval  power  would 
have  gradually  disappeared." 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1775,  as  will  appear 
from  one  of  his  letters,  his  immediate  pecuniary  re- 
sources,  from  the  causes  he  mentions,  had  almost 
entirely  failed  him,  and  for  the  two  years  following, 


EARLY  LIFE.  21 

he  lived,  as  he  expresses  it,  "  upon  fifty  pounds  " 
Mere  necessity,  however,  could  not  have  determined 
bis  election  of  an  occupation,  when  he  accepted  a 
commission  from  the  Continental  Congress.    A  man 
who  had  begun  life  with  nothing  but  "  health  and 
good  spirits  "  for  his  patrimony,  who,  while  a  mere 
boy,  had  known  how  to  obtain  profitable  employ- 
ments of  much  responsibility,  and  who  was  now  in 
the  incipient  prime  of  mental  and   bodily  vigor 
could  have  been  at  no  loss  in  investing  the  capital 
of  his  abilities,  his  credit,  and  his  "fifty  pounds" 
in  many  speculations,  which  must,  to  ordinary  minds 
at  this  epoch,  have  seemed  far  more  promising  than 
the  cause  of  the  colonists. 

An  English  compiler  of  his  memoirs,  with  very 
good  intentions,  speaks  in  an  equivocal  manner  in 
his  analysis  of  Paul's  motives.  He  also  enters  into 
an  unnecessary  apology  for  his  consenting  to  bear 
arms  against  the  mother  countrv.  The  following 
remarks,  made  by  him,  are,  however,  worthy  of 
being  quoted  here : 

«  Though  in  the  heat  of  a  struggle,  which,  from 
Its  very  nature,  was,  like  the  feuds  of  the  nearest 
relatives,  singularly  rancorous  and  bitter,  Jones  was 
branded  as  a  traitor  and  a  felon,  and  after  his  most 
brilliant  action,  his  capture  of  the  Serapis,  formally 
denounced  by  the  British  ambassador  of  the  Hao-ue 
as  a  rebel  and  a  pirate  according  to  the  laws  of  w\r 
It  must  be  remembered  that  he  bore  this  stio-ma  in 
common  with  the  best  and  greatest  of  his  contem- 


22  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

poraries — with  Franklin,  and  "Washington  ;  which 
last  had  actually  borne  arms  in  the  service  of  the 
king  of  England.  The  memory  of  Paul  Jones  now 
needs  little  vindication  for  this  important  step. 
After  the  peace  he  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  private 
friendship  of  Englishmen  who  might  have  forgiven 
the  most  imbittered  political  hostility,  but  never 
could  have  overlooked  a  taint  on  personal  honor. 
Of  this  number  was  the  Earl  of  Wemyss,  who  after 
the  peace  endeavored  to  promote  the  views  of  Jones 
on  various  occasions.  He  himself,  however,  dis- 
covers a  lurking  consciousness  of  having  incurred, 
if  not  of  meriting,  suspicion  on  this  delicate  ground. 
This  is  chiefly  displayed  by  his  eloquent  though 
rather  frequent  assertions  of  purity  of  motive,  su- 
periority to  objects  of  sordid  interest,  and  disin- 
terested zeal  for  the  cause,  now  of  America,  now  of 
human  nature,  as  was  best  adapted  to  the  supposed 
inclinations  of  his  correspondents.  In  ordinary 
circumstances,  much  of  this  might  have  appeared 
uncalled  for ;  but  the  situation  of  Jones  was  in  many 
respects  peculiar  both  as  a  native-born  Briton,  and 
as  a  man  of  obscure  origin,  jealous — and  pardonably 
so — of  his  independence  and  dignity  of  character. 
Somewhat  of  his  heroic  vaunting  which  marks  other 
parts  of  his  correspondence  appears  incident  to  the 
enthusiastic  temperament  of  many  great  naval  com- 
manders. How  would  Nelson's  tone  of  confident 
prediction,  and  boasts  of  prowess,  have  sounded 
from  the  lips  of  an  inferior  man?  In  any  other 
than  himself,  the  customary  language  of  Drake 


EARLY  LIFE.  23 

would    have  been    reckoned  that   of  an  insolent 
braggart." 

Writing  to  Baron  Yander  Capellan,  some  years 
after  the  conflict  began,  Jones  says,  in  a  spirit  of 
bitterness,  provoked  by  his  being  stigmatized  as  a 
pirate,  rebel,  etc.,  in  the  British  prints : 

"  I  was  born  in  Britain  ;  but  I  do  not  inherit  the 
degenerate  spirit  of  that  fallen  nation,  which  I  at 
once  lament  and  despise.  It  is  far  beneath  me  to 
reply  to  their  hireling  invectives.  They  are  stran- 
gers to  the  inward  approbation  that  greatly  ani- 
mates and  rewards  the  man  who  draws  his  sword 
only  in  support  of  the  dignity  of  freedom.  America 
has  been  the  country  of  my  fond  election  from  the 
age  of  thirteen,  when  I  first  saw  it.  I  had  the 
honor  to  hoist  with  my  own  hands  the  flag  of  free- 
dom, the  first  time  it  was  displayed  on  the  Dela- 
ware  ;  and  I  have  attended  it  with  veneration  ever 
since,  on  the  ocean." 

At  the  time  when  Paul  settled  (or  more  properly, 
supposed  he  meant  to  settle)  in  Virginia,  it  would 
seem  that  he  assumed  the  additional  surname  of 
Jones.  Previous  to  this  date,  his  letters  are 
signed  John  Paul.  "We  are  left  to  conjecture  the 
reason  of  this  arbitrary  change.  His  relations  were 
never  able  to  assign  one ;  there  is  no  allusion  to  the 
circumstance  in  the  manuscripts  which  he  left,  and 
tradition  is  silent  on  the  subject.  It  was,  however, 
a  caprice  by  no  means  singular  in  a  seafaring  man. 


24  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    .A3IERICAN    NAVY, 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  narrative  to 
sketch  the  early  history  of  the  American  navy,  or 
its  operations  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  except 
where  Jones  was  connected  with  them.  Of  these 
he  is  his  own  historian. 

With  the  view  of  cutting  off  the  supplies  sent  in 
store  ships  to  Boston,  then  in  possession  of  the 
British,  and  in  a  state  of  blockade, — of  obtaining 
powder  and  the  munitions  of  war,  which  were  not 
to  be  had  in  the  colonies, — and  of  retaliating  for 
depredations  committed  by  British  emissaries  along 
the  coast,  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
on  the  13th  of  November,  1775,  passed  an  act 
authorizing  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  to  be  is- 
sued against  ships  infesting  the  seacoast  of  America, 
and  elected  courts  to  try  and  condemn  such  as 
should  be  captured. 

General  Washington,  as  Commander-in-chief, 
gave  commissions  to  a  number  of  vessels,  to  intercept 
the  supplies  intended  for  Boston.  Privateers 
swarmed  in  the  bay  of  Boston,  and  off  the  neighbor- 
ing seacoast. 


THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  25 

Instances  of  gallant  and  ingenious  enterprises 
were  numerous,  and  the  names  of  those  by  whom 
they  were  conducted  will  be  entitled  to  a  place  in 
our  national  history.  On  the  13th  of  December, 
1775,  the  Continental  Congress  adopted  a  report  of 
the  Committee  appointed  to  devise  ways  and  means 
for  fitting  out  a  naval  armament;  in  which  it  was 
recommended  that  thirteen  frigates  should  be  got 
ready  for  sea  ;  five  to  be  of  thirty-two  guns,  five 
of  twenty-eight,  and  three  of  twenty -four.  They 
also  commissioned  a  small  fleet  collected  in  the 
Delaware  to  cruise  against  the  enemy,  and  passed  the 
following  resolution  : 

"  In  Congress,  22d  December,  1775. 

"  Besolved,  that  the  following  naval  officers  be 
appointed : 

'*  Ezek.  Hopkins,  Esq.,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
fleet. 

Dudley  Saltonstall,  Captain  of  the  Alfred. 

Abraham  AV hippie,         "  "    Columbus. 

Nicholas  Biddle,  "  "    Andrew  Doria. 

John  B.  Hopkins,  "  "     Cabot. 

*'  First  Lieutenants,  John  Paul  Jones,  Khodes 
Arnold,  Stansbury,  Ilersted  Hacker,  Jonathan 
Pitcher. 

"  Second  Lieutenants,  Benjamin  Seabury,  Joseph 

Olney,  Elisha  Warner,  Thomas  Weaver, M'Dou- 

gall. 

"  Third  Lieutenants,  John  Fanning,  Ezekiel  Bor- 
roughs,  Daniel  Vaughan. 


26  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

"  Eesolved,  that  the  pay  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  fleet  be  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars  per  month." 

To  this  small  fleet  were  added  the  sloop  Providence, 
the  command  of  which  Jones  declined  for  the  reasons 
stated  in  his  narrative,  which  we  shall  presently 
follow. 

The  force  consisted  of : 

Alfred,  Commodore  Hopkins,  30  guns  and  300 
men. 

Columbus,  Whipple,  28  guns  and  300  men. 

Andrew  Doria,  Biddle,  16  guns  and  200  men. 

Sebastian  Cabot,  Hopkins,  Jr.,  14  guns  and  200 
men. 

Providence,  Hazard,  12  guns  and  150  men. 

The  flag  of  America  was  hoisted  by  Jones,  as  he 
records,  being  the  first  time  it  was  displayed,  on 
board  of  the  Alfred,  of  which  he  was  first-lieutenant. 
He  does  not  mention  the  date  of  this  transaction, 
which  it  would  be  extremely  interesting  to  ascertain. 
His  commission  to  act  as  lieutenant  bore  date  on  the 
7th  December. 

The  squadron  was  originally  destined  to  act 
against  Lord  Dunmore,  who  was  committing  acts 
of  outrage  and  depredation  along  the  coast  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  navigation  of  the  Delaware  was,  how- 
ever, interrupted  by  the  ice,  and  the  fleet  did  not 
leave  Cape  Henlopen  until  the  17th  of  February, 
1776. 


THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  27 

The  most  succinct  and  clear  account  of  this  period 
of  his  service  is  given  by  Jones  in  the  commence- 
ment of  a  Journal,  drawn  up  at  the  request  of  the 
king  of  France,  and  read  by  that  unfortunate 
monarch  Avhen  he  was  a  prisoner.  It  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  When  Congress  thought  fit  to  equip  a  naval 
force  towards  the  conclusion  of  the  year  1775,  '  for 
the  defense  of  American  liberty,  and  for  repelling 
every  hostile  invasion  thereof,'  it  was  a  very  dif- 
ficult matter  to  find  men  fitly  qualified  for  oflBcers, 
and  willing  to  embark  in  the  ships  and  vessels  that 
were  then  put  into  commission.  The  American 
navy  at  first  was  no  more  than  the  ships  Alfred  and 
Columbus,  the  brigan tines  Andrew  Doria,  and  Cabot, 
and  the  sloop  Providence.  A  commander-in-chief 
of  the  fleet  w^as  appointed  ;  and  the  Captains  Sal- 
tonstall,  Whipple,  Biddle,  and  Hopkins  were  named 
for  the  ships  and  brigantines.  A  captain's  com- 
mission for  the  Providence,  bought,  or  to  be  bought, 
about  the  time,  from  Captain  Whipple,  which  Mr. 
Joseph  Hewes  of  the  Marine  Committee  ofi'ered  to 
his  friend  Mr.  John  Paul  Jones,  was  not  accepted, 
because  Mr.  Jones  had  never  sailed  in  a  sloop,  and 
had  then  no  idea  of  the  declaration  of  independence 
that  took  place  the  next  year.  It  was  his  early  wish 
to  do  his  best  for  the  cause  of  America,  which  he 
considered  as  the  cause  of  human  nature.  He  could 
have  no  object  of  self-interest ;  and  having  then  no 
prospect  that  the  American  navy  would  soon  become 
an    established   service,  that  rank  was  the  most 


2S  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

acceptable  to  him  by  which  he  could  be  the  most 
useful  in  that  moment  of  public  calamity. 

"  There  were  three  classes  of  lieutenants  ap- 
pointed, and  Mr.  Jones  was  appointed  the  first  of 
the  first-lieutenants,  which  placed  him  next  in  com- 
mand to  the  four  captains  already  mentioned.  This 
commission  under  the  united  colonies  is  dated  the 
7th  day  of  December,  1775,  as  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Alfred.  On  board  of  that  ship,  before  Philadelphia, 
Mr.  Jones  hoisted  the  flag  of  America  with  his  own 
hands,  the  first  time  it  was  ever  displayed,  as  the 
commander-in-chief  embarked  on  board  the  Alfred. 
All  the  commission  for  the  Alfred  were  dated  before 
the  commissions  for  the  Columbus,  etc.  All  the 
time  this  little  squadron  was  fitting  and  manning, 
Mr.  Jones  superintended  the  affairs  of  the  Alfred ; 
and  as  Captain  Saltonstall  did  not  appear  at  Phila- 
delphia, the  commander-in-chief  told  Mr.  Jones  he 
should  command  that  ship.  A  day  or  two  before 
the  squadron  sailed  from  Philadelphia,  manned  and 
fit  for  sea,  Captain  Saltonstall  appeared,  and  took 
command  of  the  Alfred. 

"  The  object  of  the  first  expedition  was  against 
Lord  Dunmore  in  Virginia.  But  instead  of  proceed- 
ing immediately  on  that  service,  the  squadron  was 
hauled  to  the  wharfs  at  Reedy  Island,  and  lay  there 
for  six  weeks  frozen  up.  Here  Mr.  Jones  and  the 
other  lieutenants  stood  the  deck,  w^atch  and  watch, 
night  and  day,  to  prevent  desertion ;  and  they  lost 
no  man  from  the  Alfred. 

"  On  the  17th  of  February,  1776,  the  squadron 


THE  AMERICAN  NAVT.  29 

sailed  from  the  bay  of  Delaware,  having  been  joined 
the  day  before  by  a  small  sloop  and  a  very  small 
schooner  from  Baltimore. 

"  On  the  1st  of  March  the  squadron  anchored  at 
Abaco,  one  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  carried  in 
there  two  sloops  belonging  to  New  Providence. 
Some  persons  on  board  the  sloops  informed  that  a 
quantity  of  powder  and  warlike  stores  might  be 
taken  in  the  forts  of  New  Providence.  An  expedi- 
tion was  determined  on  against  that  island.  It  was 
resolved  to  embark  the  marines  on  board  the  two 
sloops.  They  were  to  remain  below  deck  until  the 
sloops  had  anchored  in  the  harbor  close  to  the 
forts,  and  they  were  then  to  land  and  take  posses- 
sion. 

"  There  was  not  a  single  soldier  in  the  island  to 
oppose  them ;  therefore  the  plan  would  have  suc- 
ceeded, and  not  only  the  public  stores  might  have 
been  secured,  but  a  considerable  contribution  might 
have  been  obtained  as  a  ransom  for  the  town  and 
island,  had  not  the  whole  squadron  appeared  off  the 
harbor  in  the  morning,  instead  of  remaining  out  of 
sight  till  after  the  sloops  had  entered  and  the 
marines  secured  the  forts. 

"  On  the  appearance  of  the  squadron  the  signal 
of  alarm  was  fired,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to 
think  of  crossing  the  bar.  The  commander-in-chief 
proposed  to  go  round  the  west  end  of  the  island, 
and  endeavor  to  march  the  marines  up  and  get  be- 
hind the  town  ;  but  this  could  never  have  been 
effected.     The  islanders  would  have  had  time  to 


30  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

collect ;  there  was  no  fit  anchorage  for  the  squadron, 
nor  road  from  that  part  of  the  island  to  the  town. 

"  Mr.  Jones  finding  by  the  Providence  pilots  that 
the  squadron  might  anchor  under  a  key  three 
leagues  to  windward  of  the  harbor,  gave  this 
account  to  the  commander-in-chief,  who,  objecting 
to  the  dependence  on  the  pilots,  Mr.  Jones  under- 
took to  carry  the  Alfred  safe  in.  He  took  the  pilot 
with  him  to  the  fore-top  mast-head,  whence  they 
could  see  every  danger,  and  the  squadron  anchored 
safe. 

"  The  marines,  with  two  vessels  to  cover  their 
landing,  were  immediately  sent  in  by  the  east 
passage.  The  commander-in-chief  promised  to 
touch  no  private  property.  The  inhabitants  aban- 
doned the  forts,  and  the  governor,  finding  he  must 
surrender  the  island,  embarked  all  the  powder  in 
two  vessels,  and  sent  them  away  in  the  night. 
This  was  foreseen,  and  might  have  been  prevented, 
by  sending  the  two  brigantines  to  lie  off  the  bar. 

"  The  squadron  entered  the  harbor  of  Xew  Prov- 
idence, and  sailed  thence  the  ITth  of  March,  having 
embarked  the  cannon,  etc.,  that  was  found  in  the  fort. 

"  In  the  night  of  the  9th  of  April,  on  the  return 
of  the  squadron  from  the  Providence  expedition, 
the  American  arms  by  sea  were  first  tried  in  an  ac- 
tion with  the  Glasgow,  a  British  frigate  of  2tl:  guns, 
off  Block  Island.  Both  the  Alfred  and  Columbus 
mounted  two  batteries.  The  Alfred  mounted  30, 
the  Columbus  28,  guns.  The  first  battery  was  so 
near  the  water  as  to  be  fit  for  nothing  except  in  a 


THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  31 

harbor  or  a  very  smooth  sea.    The  sea  was  at  times 
perfectly  smooth. 

"  Mr.  Jones  was  stationed  between  decks  to  com- 
mand the  Alfred's  first  battery,  which  was  well 
served  whenever  the  guns  could  be  brought  to  bear 
on  the  enemy,  as  appears  by  the  official  letter  of 
the  commander-in-chief  giving  an  account  of  that 
action.  Mr.  Jones  therefore  did  his  duty ;  and  as 
he  had  no  direction  whatever,  either  of  the  general 
disposition  of  the  squadron,  or  the  sails  and  helm 
of  the  Alfred,  he  can  stand  charged  with  no  part  of 
the  disgrace  of  that  night. 

"  The  squadron  steered  directly  for  "New  London, 
and  entered  that  port  two  days  after  the  action. 
Here  General  Washington  lent  the  squadron  200 
men,  as  was  thought,  for  some  enterprise.  The 
squadron,  however,  stole  quietly  round  to  Ehode 
Island,  and  up  the  river  to  Providence.  Here  a 
court-martial  was  held  for  the  trial  of  Captain 
Whipple,  for  not  assisting  in  the  action  with  the 
Glasgow. 

"  Another  court-martial  was  held  for  the  trial  of 
Captain  Hazard,  who  had  been  appointed  captain 
of  the  sloop  Providence  at  Philadelphia,  some  time 
after  Mr.  Jones  had  refused  that  command.  Cap- 
tain Hazard  was  broke,  and  rendered  incapable  of 
serving  in  the  navy. 

"  The  next  day,  the  10th  of  May,  1776,  Mr.  Jones 
was  ordered  by  the  commander-in-chief  to  take 
command  *as  captain  of  the  Providence.'  This 
proves  that  Mr.  Jones  did  his  duty  on  the  Prov- 


-83  LITE  or  PAUL  JONES. 

idence  expedition.  As  the  commander-in-chief  had 
in  his  hands  no  blank  commission,  this  appoint- 
ment  was  written  and  signed  on  the  back  of 
the  commission  that  Mr.  Jones  had  received  at 
Philadelphia  the  7th  of  December,  3775. 

"  Captain  Jones  had  orders  to  receive  on  board 
the  Providence  the  soldiers  that  had  been  borrowed 
from  General  Washington,  and  to  carry  them  to 
New  York,  there  enlist  as  many  seamen  as  he  could, 
and  then  return  to  New  London,  to  take  in  from 
the  hospital  all  the  seamen  that  had  been  left  there 
by  the  squadron,  and  were  recovered,  and  carry 
them  to  Providence. 

"  Captain  Jones  soon  performed  these  services ; 
and  having  hove  down  the  sloop  and  partly  fitted 
her  for  war  at  Providence,  he  received  orders  from 
the  commander-in-chief,  dated  Phode  Island,  June 
10th,  1776,  to  come  immediately  down  to  take  a 
sloop  then  in  sight,  armed  for  war,  belonging  to 
the  enemy's  nnvy.  Captain  Jones  obeyed  orders 
with  alacrity  ;  but  the  enemy  had  disappeared  before 
he  reached  Newport. 

"On  the  13th  of  June,  1776,  Captain  Jones  re- 
ceived orders,  dated  that  day  at  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  from  the  commander-in-chief,  to  proceed  to 
Newburyport  to  take  under  convoy  some  vessels 
bound  for  Philadelphia;  but  first  to  convoy  Lieu- 
tenant Hacket  in  tlie  Fly,  with  a  cargo  of  cannon, 
into  the  sound  for  New  Yorlc,  and  to  convoy  some 
vessels  back  from  Stoningtou  to  the  entrance  of 
Newport. 


THE  AMERICAN  NAVY.  83 

"  In  performing  these  last  services,  Captain  Jones 
found  great  difficulty  from  the  enemy's  frigates, 
then  cruising  round  Block  Island,  with  which  he  had 
several  rencontres ;  in  one  of  which  he  saved  a  brig- 
antine  that  was  a  stranger,  from  Ilispaniola,  closely 
pursued  by  the  Cerberus,  and  laden  with  public  mil- 
itarj''  stores.  That  brigantine  was  afterwards  pur- 
chased by  the  Continent,  and  called  the  Hampden. 

"  Captain  Jones  received  orders  from  the  command- 
er in  chief  to  proceed  for  Boston  instead  of  New- 
buryport.  At  Boston  he  was  detained  a  consider- 
able time  by  the  backwardness  of  the  agent.  He 
arrived  with  his  convoy  from  Boston,  safe  in  the  Dela- 
ware, the  1st  of  August,  1776.  This  service  was 
performed  while  the  enemy  were  arriving  daily  at 
Sandy  Hook  from  Halifax  and  England,  under  the 
escort  and  protection  of  Lord  Howe,  and  Captain 
Jones  saw  several  of  their  ships  of  war  which  he  had 
the  address  to  avoid. 

"Captain  Jones  received  a  captain's  commission 
under  the  United  States  of  America,  from  the  presi« 
dent  of  Congress  the  8th  of  August." 
3 


^  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  IIL 


CAPTAIN  JONEs'   SERVICB. 


CoNTiNTTiNo  his  joumal  written  for  the  perusal  of 
the  king  of  France,  Jones  writes : 

"  It  was  proposed  to  Captain  Jones  by  the  Marine 
Committee  of  Congress  to  go  to  Connecticut,  to  com- 
mand the  brigantine  Hampden ;  but  he,  choosing 
rather  to  remain  in  the  sloop  Providence,  had  orders 
to  go  out  on  a  cruise  against  the  enemy  *for  six 
weeks,  or  two  or  three  months.' 

"  He  was  not  limited  to  any  particular  station  or 
service.  He  left  the  Delaware  the  21st  of  August, 
and  arrived  at  Ehode  Island  on  the  7th  of  October, 
1776.  Captain  Jones  had  only  seventy  men  when 
he  sailed  from  the  Delaware,  and  the  Providence 
mounted  only  12  four-pounders. 

"  Near  the  latitude  of  Bermudas  he  had  a  very 
narrow  escape  from  the  enemy's  frigate,  the  Solebay, 
after  a  chase  and  an  engagement  for  six  hours  with- 
in cannon-shot,  and  considerable  part  of  that  time 
within  pistol-shot. 

"  Afterwards,  near  the  isle  of  Sable,  Captain  Jones 
had  a  running  fight  with  the  enemy's  frigate  the 
Milford  ;  and  the  firing  between  them  lasted  from 
ten  in  the  morning  till  after  sunset. 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  35 

"  The  day  after  this  rencontre,  Captain  Jones  en- 
tered the  harbor  of  Canso,  where  he  recruited  several 
men,  took  the  Tories'  flags,  destroyed  all  the  fishery, 
burned  the  shipping,  and  sailed  again  the  next  morn- 
ing on  an  expedition  against  the  Island  of  Madame. 

"  He  made  two  descents  at  the  principal  ports  of 
that  island  at  the  same  time ;  surprised,  burned,  and 
destroyed  all  their  shipping,  and  the  fishery,  though 
the  place  abounded  with  men,  and  they  had  arms. 

"  All  this,  from  the  Delaware  to  Khode  Island,  was 
performed  in  six  weeks  and  five  days ;  in  which 
time  Captain  Jones  made  sixteen  prizes,  besides  a 
great  number  of  small  vessels  and  fishery  which  he 
destroyed. 

"  The  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy  was  at 
Rhode  Island,  who,  in  consequence  of  the  informa- 
tion given  him  by  Captain  Jones,  adopted  an  expedi- 
tion against  the  coal  fleet  of  Cape  Breton  and  the 
fishery,  as  well  as  to  relieve  a  number  of  Americans 
from  the  coal  mines,  where  they  were  compelled  to 
labor  by  the  enemy. 

"  The  Alfred  had  remained  idle  ever  since  the 
Providence  expedition,  and  was  without  men.  It 
was  proposed  to  employ  that  ship,  the  brigantine 
Hampden,  and  sloop  Providence,  on  this  expedition, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Jones,  who  had 
orders  given  him  for  that  purpose  on  t*he  22d  of 
October,  1776,  and  then  removed  from  the  sloop 
Providence  to  command  the  ship  Alfred. 

"  Finding  he  could  not  enlist  a  sufficient  number  of 
men  for  the  three  to  sail  before  the  season  would  be 


3(5  UFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

lost,  Captain  Jones  determined  to  leave  the  sloop 
Providence  behind  ;  but  Captain  Hacker  ran  the 
Hampden  upon  a  ledge  of  rocks  on  the  27th,  and 
knocked  off  her  keel,  which  obliged  Captain  Jones 
to  remove  him  into  the  sloop  Providence. 

"  The  Alfred  and  Providence  sailed  together  on 
this  expedition  the  2d  of  November,  1776,  Captain 
Jones  having  only  140  men  on  his  muster-roll  for 
the  Alfred,  though  that  ship  had  235  men  when  she 
left  the  Delaware.  Captain  Jones  passed  between 
the  enemies'  frigates  at  Block  Island  and  the  shore, 
and  anchored  for  the  night  at  Tarpawling  Cove, 
near  Nantucket,  because  daylight  was  necessary  to 
pass  through  the  shoals. 

"  Finding  there  a  privateer  schooner  belonging  to 
Rhode  Island  inward  bound,  he  sent  his  boat  to 
search  for  deserters  from  the  navy.  His  officers 
found  four  deserters  carefully  concealed  on  board. 
They  were  taken  on  board  the  Alfred,  with  a  few 
other  seamen,  agreeably  to  orders  from  the  com- 
mander-in-chief. Those  concerned  in  the  privateer 
brought  an  action  against  Captain  Jones  for  10,000 
pounds  damages,  and  the  commander-in-chief  had 
the  politeness  not  to  support  him. 

"  Captain  Jones  proceeded  on  his  expedition.  Off 
Louis bourg  he  took  a  brig  with  a  rich  cargo  of  dry 
goods,  a  scow  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  and  a  large  ship 
called  the  Mellish,  bound  for  Canada,  armed  for  war, 
and  laden  with  soldiers'  clothing.  The  day  after 
taking  these  prizes  (18th  November)  the  snow  fell, 
and  the  wind  blew  fresh  off  Cape  Breton. 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  37 

"  To  prevent  separation,  and  not  from  the  violence 
of  the  weather,  Captain  Jones  made  the  signal  to 
lay  to,  which  was  obeyed ;  but  as  soon  as  night  began, 
Captain  Hacker  bore  away.  He  made  shift  to  ar- 
rive at  Rhode  Island  a  day  or  two  before  the  place 
was  taken  by  the  enemy. 

"  Captain  Jones  ordered  his  prizes,  the  brigantine 
and  the  scow,  to  steer  for  American  ports ;  but  de- 
termined not  to  lose  sight  of  the  Mellish,  unless  in 
case  of  necessity.  After  a  little  gale  and  some 
contrary  winds,  he  fell  in  with  Canso,  and  sent  his 
boats  in  to  destroy  a  fine  transport  that  lay  aground 
in  the  entrance,  laden  with  Irish  provision.  The 
party  burnt  also  the  oil-warehouse,  and  destroyed 
the  materials  for  the  whale  and  cod  fishery. 

"  Off  Louisbourg,  on  the  24:th  of  November,  ho 
took  three  fine  ships  out  of  the  coal-fleet,  then  bound 
for  New  York,  under  the  convoy  of  the  frigate 
Flora,  that  would  have  been  in  sio-ht  had  the  iog; 
been  dispersed.  Two  days  after  this,  Captain  Jones 
took  a  strong  letter-of-marque  ship  with  a  rich  cargo, 
from  Liverpool. 

"  He  had  now  a  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  on 
board  the  Alfred,  and  a  great  part  of  his  water  and 
provisions  was  consumed.  He  found  by  his  prisoners 
that  the  harbor  at  the  coal-mines  was  frozen  up,  and 
necessity  obliged  him  to  seek  a  hospitable  port  with 
the  five  prize-ships  under  his  convoy. 

"  No  separation  took  place  till  the  7th  of  December, 
on  the  edge  of  St.  George's  Bank,  where  Captain 
Jones  again  fell  in  with  the  Milford  frigate.    Cap- 


38  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

tain  Jones  drew  the  whole  attention  of  the  enemy 
toward  the  Alfred,  and  by  running  the  greatest  risk 
himself,  saved  all  his  prizes  except  the  letter-of- 
marque  from  Liverpool,  and  she  would  not  have 
been  taken  had  not  the  prize-master,  who  was  three 
leagues  to  windward,  foolishly  run  down  under  the 
Mil  ford's  face. 

"The  Mellish  arrived  safe  with  the  clothing  at 
Dartmouth,  and  Captain  Jones,  after  meeting  with 
much  tempestuous  weather,  arrived  at  Boston  the 
15th  of  December,  1776,  having  only  two  days'  water 
and  provisions  left.  The  news  of  the  supply  of 
clothing  reached  General  Washington's  army  just 
before  he  re-crossed  the  Delaware,  and  took  the 
enemy's  garrison  at  Trenton. 

"  By  a  letter  from  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Navy,  dated  on  board  the  Warren,  at  Providence, 
January  14th,  1777,  Captain  Jones  was  superseded 
in  the  command  of  the  Alfred,  in  favor  of  Captain 
Hinman. 

"  Captain  Jones  paid  off  the  crews  of  the  Alfred 
and  Providence,  for  which  he  was  not  reimbursed 
until  the  end  of  the  war,  and  then  without  any  in- 
terest. 

"  On  the  18th  of  February  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment by  order  of  Congress  from  the  Hon.  Kobert 
Morris,  Esq.,  Vice-President  of  the  Marine  Com- 
mittee, dated  Philadelphia,  February  the  5th,  1777, 
to  command  private  expeditions  against  Pensacola 
and  other  places,  with  the  Alfred,  Columbus,  Cabot, 
Hampden,  and  sloop  Providence.    Many  important 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  39 

schemes  were  pointed  out ;  but  Captain  Jones  was 
left  at  free  liberty  to  adopt  whatever  he  thought 
best. 

"  This  appointment  fell  to  nothing ;  for  the  com- 
mander-in-chief would  not  assist,  but  affected  to 
disbelieve  in  the  appointment.  Captain  Jones  made 
a  journey  by  land  from  Boston  to  Philadelphia,  in 
order  to  explain  matters  to  Congress  in  person." 

There  are  two  other  documents  written  by  Jones, 
recapitulating  in  a  much  more  summary  manner 
the  events  of  the  cruises  in  which  he  was  engaged 
during  the  time  passed  over  in  the  foregoing  extract. 
One  of  these  is  a  letter  or  memorial,  addressed  to 
the  President  of  Congress,  written  from  the  Texel, 
December  7th,  1779,  which  he  elsewhere  styles  "  a 
refreshing  memorial ;  "  the  other,  a  letter  addressed 
to  Mr.  Morris,  Minister  of  the  Marine,  etc.,  dated 
Philadelphia,  October  13th,  1783. 

The  narrative  drawn  up  for  the  king  of  France  is 
by  far  the  most  precise ;  on  which  account  it  has 
been  introduced.  It  will  be  necessary,  however,  to 
revert  to  some  of  its  details,  for  the  purposes  of  il- 
lustrating the  circumstances  it  records,  and  explain- 
ing the  subsequent  passages  in  the  history  of  Jones. 

The  affair  with  the  Glasgow  is  briefly  alluded  to. 
Jones  felt  that  no  glory  was  gained  by  it,  and  such 
was  the,  perhaps,  unreasonable  opinion  of  the  Ameri- 
can public  at  the  time.  Commodore  Hopkins  al- 
leged in  his  justification  that,  if  he  had  pursued  the 
escaping  frigate,  it  might  have  brought  him  into  an 
engagement  with  the  whole  of  Wallace's  fleet,  then 


4(^  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

committing  great  depredation  on  the  coast  of  Bliodo 
Island. 

As  Jones  observes,  it  was  the  business  of  the  com- 
mander and  captains  to  answer  for  the  escape  of  the 
frigate ;  yet  a  sensibilit}^  not  unallied,  perhaps,  to 
a  premature  and  morbid  apprehension  that  censure 
would  light  upon  himself,  caused  him  always  to 
speak  of  this  affair  as  if  his  personal  conduct  stood 
in  need  of  exculpation. 

In  the  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress,  last 
referred  to,  Jones  says :  "  I  continued  in  that  ship 
(the  Alfred),  and  had  ray  share  of  the  dishonor 
which  attended  the  first  essay  of  American  arms 
by  sea  with  the  Glasgow.  Permit  me,  however,  to 
observe  that,  as  I  w^as  stationed  to  command  the 
lower  battery  of  the  Alfred,  I  had  no  share  in  the 
government  of  the  sails  or  helm  ;  and  as  the  artillery 
under  my  direction  was  well  served,  whenever  it 
could  be  brought  to  bear,  I  hope  Congress  will  not 
find  that  the  disgrace  of  that  night  was  owing  to  me." 

Writing  to  Mr.  Hewes,  shortly  after  the  transac- 
tion, he  says :  "  My  station  confined  me  to  the 
Alfred's  lower  gun-deck,  where  I  commanded  during 
the  action ;  yet,  though  the  commander's  letter, 
which  has  been  published,  says,  'all  the  officers  in 
theAlfred  behaved  well,'  still  the  public  blames  me 
among  others  for  not  taking  the  enemy.  But  a  little 
consideration  will  place  the  matter  in  a  true  light; 
but  no  officer,  under  a  superior,  who  does  not  stand 
charged,  by  that  superior,  for  cowardice  or  miscon- 
duct, can  be  blamed  on  any  occasion  whatever." 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICH.  4J 

It  is  to  be  observed  that,  while  thus  disavowing 
any  responsibility,  as  a  subaltern,  Jones  by  no  means 
imputes  blame  to  Commodore  Hopkins.  He  saj-s, 
in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Hewes :  "  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  assuring  you  that  the  commander-in-chief  is  re- 
spected throughout  the  fleet ;  and  1  verily  believe 
that  the  officers  and  men,  in  general,  would  go  to 
any  length  to  execute  his  orders."  In  the  same 
letter  he  refers  to  the  minutes  of  the  action  with 
the  Glasgow,  as  entered  by  himself  on  the  Alfred*s 
log-book : 

"  At  2  A.M.  cleared  ship  for  action.  At  half -past 
two  the  Cabot,  being  between  us  and  the  enemy, 
began  to  engage,  and  soon  after  we  did  the  same. 
At  the  third  glass,  the  enemy  bore  away,  and  by 
crowding  sail  at  length  got  a  considerable  way  a- 
head,  made  signals  for  the  rest  of  the  English  fleet 
at  Ehode  Island  to  come  to  her  assistance,  and  steered 
directly  for  the  harbor.  The  commodore  then 
thought  it  imprudent  to  risk  our  prizes  by  pursuing 
farther  ;  therefore,  to  prevent  our  being  decoyed 
into  their  hands,  at  half-past  six  made  the  signal  to 
leave  off  chase  and  haul  by  the  wind  to  join  our 
prizes.  The  Cabot  was  disabled  at  the  second  broad- 
side ;  the  captain  being  dangerously  wounded,  the 
master  and  several  men  killed.  The  enemy's  whole 
fire  was  then  directed  at  us,  and  an  unluck}^  shot 
having  carried  away  our  wheel-block  and  ropes,  the 
ship  broached  to,  and  gave  the  enemy  an  opportunity 
of  raking  us  with  several  broadsides  before  we  were 
again  in  condition  to  steer  the  ship  and  return  the 


4d  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

fire.  In  the  action  we  received  several  shot  under 
water,  which  made  the  ship  very  leaky ;  we  had, 
besides,  the  mainmast  shot  through,  and  the  upper 
works  and  the  rigging  very  considerably  damaged; 
yet  it  is  surprising  that  we  only  lost  the  second  lieu- 
tenant of  Marines  and  four  men,  one  of  whom 
(Martin  Gillingwater)  was  a  midshipman,  prisoner, 
who  was  in  the  cockpit,  and  had  been  taken  in  the 
bomb  brig  Bolton  yesterday ;  we  had  no  more  than 
three  men  dangerously  and  four  slightly  wounded." 
In  the  87th  number  of  the  "  Constitutional 
Gazette,"  published  in  New  York,  May  29th,  1776, 
is  a  statement  of  Captain  David  HawJey,  who  had 
arrived  at  Hartford,  from  Halifax,  whence  he  had 
escaped,  having  been  a  prisoner  on  board  the  Glas- 
gow during  the  skirmish  in  question.  He  says  that, 
"on  the  — th  of  April,  the  Glasgow  sailed  from 
Newport;  came  up  and  hailed  the  brig,  who  an- 
swered that  they  were  from  Plymouth ;  then  the 
brig  hailed  the  Glasgow,  and  was  told  who  they 
were.  Upon  signals  being  made  and  not  answered, 
as  it  was  still  dark,  the  Glasgow  received  a  heavy 
broadside  from  the  brig,  killed  one  man,  and  slightly 
wounded  another.  Then  the  Alfred  came  up,  and 
closely  engaged  her  for  near  three  glasses,  while  the 
black  brig  attacked  the  Glasgow  on  her  lee  bow. 
It  was  observed  by  the  motion  of  the  Alfred,  that 
she  had  received  some  unlucky  shot.  The  sloop  of 
twelve  guns  fired  upon  her  stern  without  any  great 
effect.  The  most  of  her  shot  went  about  six  feet 
above  the  deck  5  whereas,  if  they  had  been  properly 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  43 

leveled,  they  must  soon  have  cleared  it  of  men. 
The  Glasgow  got  at  a  distance,  when  she  fired 
smartly;  and  the  engagement  lasted  about  six 
glasses,  when  they  both  seemed  willing  to  quit. 
The  Glasgow  was  considerably  damaged  in  her  hull ; 
had  ten  shot  through  her  mainsail,  and  eighty-eight 
through  her  foresail ;  had  her  spars  carried  away, 
and  her  rigging  cut  to  pieces.  On  the  6th  they  got 
into  Rhode  Island ;  early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th, 
were  fired  upon  from  the  shore,  cut  her  cables,  and 
run  up  to  Hope  Island,  where  the  hospital  ship 
followed  them.  The  wind  shifting  to  the  north- 
ward, they  went  out  and  joined  Commodore  Wallace, 
and  after  two  days  sailed  for  Halifax,  where  Captain 
Hawley  tarried  a  fortnight,  and  on  the  7th  of  April, 
made  his  escape  with  eight  others,  in  a  small  boat, 
and  came  to  Old  York." 

The  seventy-fifth  number  of  the  same  newspaper, 
of  April  17th,  1776,  contains  the  following  account 
under  date  of  ISTewport,  April  8th,  which  throws 
light  upon  the  result  of  the  affair  with  the  Glasgow, 
and  from  its  quaintness  may  not  be  uninterest- 
ing. 

"  Last  Friday  the  ministerial  fleet  went  a  little 
without  the  mouth  of  our  harbor,  and  in  the  even- 
ing they  all  returned  and  anchored  between  Gould 
Island  and  Coddington's  Point,  except  the  Glasgow, 
of  twenty -four  guns,  and  a  small  tender,  which  kept 
out  all  night.  As  soon  as  it  was  light,  the  next 
morning,  a  part}^  of  the  troops  stationed  on  the 
island  got  down  two  of  their  eigh teen-pounders  upon 


44  LIFE  or  PAUL  JONEa. 

the  point,  and  played  so  well  upon  these  worse  than 
Algerine  rovers,  that  they  hulled  the  Rose  two  or 
three  times,  the  Nautilus  once  or  twice,  and  sent  a 
shot  through  and  through  one  of  the  armed  tenders, 
upon  which  Captain  Wallace,  of  the  Rose,  sent  off 
a  boat  to  cut  away  the  buoy  of  his  anchor,  then 
slipped  his  cable,  and  made  off  as  fast  as  possible ; 
and  the  rest  of  his  fleet  followed  in  the  utmost  hurry 
and  confusion,  having  fired  about  fifteen  cannon 
upon  our  people  without  the  least  effect,  though 
they  stood  in  considerable  numbers,  as  open  as  they 
could  well  be,  without  the  least  breastwork  or  other 
shelter. 

"  For  several  hours  before,  and  during,  the  above 
engagement,  a  vast  number  of  cannon  were  heard 
from  the  southeast  and  about  sunrise  eight  or  ten 
sail  of  ships,  brigs,  etc.,  were  seen  a  little  to  the  east- 
ward of  Block  Island,  and  indeed  the  flashes  of  the 
cannon  were  seen  by  some  people  about  daybreak. 
These  things  caused  much  speculation,  but  in  a  few 
hours  the  mystery  was  somewhat  cleared  up,  for 
away  came  the  poor  Glasgow,  under  all  the  sail  she 
could  set,  yelping  from  the  mouths  of  her  cannon 
like  a  broken-legged  dog,  as  a  signal  of  her  being 
sadly  wounded.  And  though  she  settled  away,  and 
handed  most  of  her  sails  just  before  she  came  into 
the  harbor,  it  w^as  plainly  perceived  by  the  holes  in 
those  she  had  standing,  and  by  the  hanging  of  her 
yards,  that  she  had  been  treated  in  a  very  rough 
manner.  The  other  vessels  seen  off  stood  up  the 
western  sound,  and  by  very  authentic  intelligence 


CAPTAEf  JONES'  6ERVICB.  i$ 

on  Saturday  evening,  we  are  fully  convinced  they 
were  twelve  sail  of  the  Continental  navy,  very 
deeply  laden  with  cannon,  mortars,  cannon-shot, 
bombs,  and  other  warlike  stores  from  the  West 
Indies,  so  that  it  is  probable  their  precious  cargoes 
were  the  sole  cause  of  Mrs.  Glasgow's  making  her 
escape.  Her  tender  was  taken,  as  also  the  bomb 
brig,  and  a  schooner  which  had  been  out  near  a 
week  in  search  of  prey. 

"  As  soon  as  the  Glasgow  got  in,  the  Rose,  Cap- 
tain Wallace,  the  Nautilus,  Captain  Collins,  the  Swan, 
Captain  Ascough,  with  several  tenders  and  pirated 
prizes,  stood  out  to  sea,  leaving  the  Glasgow,  a  large 
scow,  and  two  small  sloops  at  anchor,  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  fron  Brenton's  point.  The  ensu- 
ing night,  a  party  of  troops  carried  one  eighteen- 
pounder,  one  nine,  one  six,  and  two  four-pounders, 
on  said  point,  and  early  yesterday  morning  saluted 
the  Glasgow  with  such  warmth  that  she  slipped  her 
cable  and  pushed  up  the  river  without  firing  a  gun, 
under  all  the  sail  she  could  make,  and  the  others  fol- 
lowed with  great  precipitation.  By  the  terrible 
cracking  on  board  the  Glasgow,  the  noise  and  confu- 
sion among  her  men,  it  is  thought  the  cannon  did 
good  execution.  The  wind  shifting  to  the  northward 
about  noon,  those  vessels  ran  down  the  back  of 
Conanicut  and  stood  out  to  sea,  supposed  to  have 
gone  in  quest  of  Captain  Wallace,  to  make  a  woful 
complaint  of  the  incivility  of  the  Yankees." 

The  adventure  with  the  Glasgow  cannot,  from  the 
evidence  now  left,  be  considered  as  discreditable  to 


^6  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  infant  navy  of  America.  The  promotion  of  Jones 
by  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy,  to  be  acting 
commandant  of  the  Providence,  proves,  as  he  states 
himself,  that  the  officer  under  whose  immediate 
command  he  had  served,  approved  of  his  con- 
duct. 

While  convej^ng  military  stores  and  troops  be- 
tween Newport  and  Xew  York,  he  appears  from  his 
journal  to  have  had  several  rencontres  with  the  Cer- 
berus frigate  and  with  others. 

In  his  *'  refreshing  memorial "  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  written  from  the  Texel,  he  says,  when 
speaking  of  this  period  of  his  service : 

"  The  first  task  I  performed  in  the  Providence  was 
to  transport  a  number  of  soldiers  from  Providence 
to  Xew  York,  which  General  Washington  had  lent 
us  at  New  London  to  inspire  us  with  courage  to  ven- 
ture round  to  Rhode  Island. 

"  The  Commodore  employed  me  afterwards  for 
some  time  to  escort  vessels  from  Rhode  Island  into 
the  Sound,  etc,"  while  the  Cerberus  and  other  ves- 
sels cruised  round  Block  Island.  At  last  I  received 
orders  to  proceed  to  Boston,  to  take  under  convoy 
some  vessels  laden  with  coal  for  Philadelphia.  I 
performed  that  service  about  the  time  when  Lord 
Howe  arrived  at  Sandy  Hook.  It  was  proposed  to 
send  me  from  Philadelphia  by  land  to  take  command 
of  the  Hampden  in  Connecticut,  but  I  preferred  to 
continue  in  the  Providence,  the  Hampden  being  a 
far  inferior  vessel  to  the  description  that  had  been 
given  of  her  to  Congress." 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  47 

He  was  commissioned  to  sail  from  the  Delaware 
on  a  cruise  "  with  unlimited  orders,"  as  he  expressed 
it  in  his  memorial ;  and  this  was  certainly  the  sort 
of  trust  which  he  best  loved  to  execute.  Some  ex- 
tracts from  his  letters  to  the  marine  committee  of 
Congress,  relative  to  his  adventurers  in  this  cruise 
of  "  six  weeks  and  five  days,"  so  briefly  mentioned 
in  his  journal,  will  probably  be  acceptable  to  the 
reader. 

"  Providence,  at  sea,  in  K.  Lat.  37°  40'. 
S.  W.  Longitude,  64°,  Sejpt.  Uh,  1776. 

"  Gentlemen, — 

"  I  had  the  honor  of  writing  to  you  August  27th, 
per  the  brigantine  Britannia,  which  I  sent  under  the 
care  of  Lieutenant  Wm.  Grinnell.  Since  that,  I 
have  been  to  the  southward,  near  the  parallel  of 
Bermuda,  and  brought  to  four  sail  of  French,  Spanish, 
and  Danish  ships,  homeward  bound,  but  without 
gaining  any  useful  information.  On  the  first  current 
1  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  five  sail,  one  of  them  being 
very  large,  it  was  the  general  opinion  here,  that  she 
was  either  an  Old  Indiaman,  outward  bound,  with 
stores,  or  a  Jamaica  three-decker,  bound  homewards. 
We  found  her  to  be  an  English  frigate,  mounting 
twenty  guns  upon  one  deck.  She  sailed  fast,  and 
pursued  us  by  the  wind,  till,  after  four  hours'  chase, 
the  sea  running  very  cross,  she  got  within  musket 
shot  of  our  lee-quarter.  As  they  had  continued  fir- 
ing at  us  from  the  first,  without  showing  colors,  I 
now  ordered  ours  to  be  hoisted,  and  began  to  fire  at 


4g  LIFE  or  PAUL  JONES. 

them.  Upon  this,  they  also  hoisted  American  colors, 
and  fired  guns  to  leeward.  But  the  bait  would  not 
take,  for,  having  everything  prepared,  I  bore  away 
before  the  wind,  and  set  all  our  light  sail  at  once ; 
so  that  before  her  sails  could  be  trimmed,  and  steer- 
ing sails  set,  I  was  almost  out  of  reach  of  grape,  and 
soon  after  out  of  reach  of  cannon  shot.  Our  'hair- 
breadth escape,'  and  the  saucy  manner  of  making  it, 
must  have  mortified  him  not  a  little.  Had  he  fore- 
seen this  motion,  and  been  prepared  to  counteract  it, 
he  might  have  fired  several  broadsides  of  double- 
headed  and  grape  shot,  which  would  have  done  us 
very  material  damage.  But  he  was  a  bad  marksman  ; 
and,  though  within  pistol  shot,  did  not  touch  the 
Providence  with  one  of  the  many  shots  he  fired.  I 
met  with  no  other  adventure  till  last  night,  when  I 
took  the  Bermuda-built  brigantine  Sea  Nymph,  etc." 

He  concludes  this  letter  by  observing  that  he  did 
not  expect  much  success  in  his  cruise,  as  it  was  too 
late  for  the  season  ;  a  remark  which  he  repeats  in 
his  next  letter,  dated  three  days  after,  when  sending 
in  the  brigantine  Favorite  laden  with  sugar,  from 
Antigua,  for  Liverpool,  which  he  had  captured 
on  the  evening  of  September  6th,  being  his  third 
prize. 

The  following  characteristic  letter,  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  manner  in  which  he  "  ridicules  "  the 
Milford  frigate  and  took  or  destroyed  the  shipping 
in  Canso  harbor,  seems  worthy  of  bein^;  inserted 
entire ; 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERTICE.  4^ 

"  Providence,  off  the  Isle  of  Sable, 
Sejptemler  30th,  1776. 
"  Gentlemen, — 

"  From  that  time  of  despatching  the  Favorite,  I 
cruised  without  seeing  any  vessel.  I  then  spoke 
the  Columbus'  prize,  the  ship  Koyal  Exchange, 
bound  for  Boston.  By  this  time,  my  water  and 
wood  began  to  run  short,  which  induced  me  to  run 
to  the  northward,  for  some  port  of  Nova  Scotia  or 
Cape  Breton.  I  had,  besides,  a  prospect  of  destroy- 
ing the  English  shipping  in  these  parts.  The  16th 
and  17th,  I  had  a  very  heavy  gale  from  the  N.  W. 
which  obliged  me  to  dismount  all  my  guns,  and 
stick  everything  I  could  into  the  hold.  The  19th, 
I  made  the  Isle  of  Sable,  and  on  the  20th,  beino- 
between  it  and  the  main,  I  met  with  an  English 
frigate,  with  a  merchant  ship  under  her  convoy.  I 
had  hove  to,  to  give  my  people  an  opportunity  of 
taking  fish,  when  the  frigate  came  in  sight  directly 
to  windward,  and  was  so  good-natured  as  to  save 
me  the  trouble  of  chasing  him,  by  bearing  down 
the  instant  he  discovered  us.  When  he  came  within 
cannon-shot,  I  made  sail  to  try  his  speed.  Quarter- 
ing and  finding  that  I  had  the  advantage,  I  shor- 
tened sail  to  give  him  a  wild-goose  chase,  and  tempt 
him  to  throw  away  powder  and  shot.  Accordingly, 
a  curious  mock  engagement  was  maintained  between 
us  for  eight  hours  ;  until  night,  with  her  sable  cur- 
tains, put  an  end  to  this  famous  exploit  of  English 
knight-errantry. 

"  He  excited  my  contempt  so  much  by  his  con- 

4 


50  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

tinued  firing,  at  more  than  twice  the  proper  dis- 
tance, that  when  he  rounded  to  to  give  his  broadside, 
I  ordered  my  marine  officer  to  return  the  salute 
with  only  a  single  musket.  We  saw  him,  next 
morning,  standing  to  the  westward  ;  and  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  he  hath  told  his  friends  at  Halifax 
what  a  trimming  he  gave  to  a  'rebel  privateer' 
which  he  found  infesting  the  coast. 

"That  night  I  was  off  Canso  harbor,  and  sent 
my  boat  in  to  gain  information.  On  the  morning 
of  the  22d,  1  anchored  in  the  harbor,  and,  before 
night,  got  off  a  sufficiency  of  wood  and  water. 
Here  I  recruited  several  men,  and  finding  three 
English  schooners  in  the  harbor,  we  that  night 
burned  one,  sunk  another,  and,  in  the  morning, 
carried  off  the  third,  which  we  had  loaded  with 
what  fish  was  found  in  the  other  two. 

*'  At  Canso,  I  received  information  of  nine  sail  of 
ships,  brigs,  and  schooners,  in  the  harbor  of  Narrow 
Shock  and  Peter  de  Great,  at  a  small  distance  from 
each  other,  in  the  Island  of  Madame,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  bay  of  Canso.  These  I  determined  to 
take  or  destroy ;  and,  to  do  it  effectually,  having 
brought  a  shallop  for  the  purpose  from  Canso,  I 
despatched  herewith  twenty-five  armed  men  to 
Karrow  Shock,  while  my  boat  went,  well  manned 
and  armed,  to  Peter  de  Great ;  and  I  kept  off  and 
on  with  the  sloop,  to  keep  them  in  awe  at  both  places. 
The  expedition  succeeded  to  my  wish.  So  effectual 
was  this  surprise,  and  so  general  the  panic,  that 
numbers  yielded  to  a  handful,  without  opposition, 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  51 

and  never  was  a  bloodless  victory  more  complete. 
As  the  shipping  that  were  unloaded  were  all  un- 
rigged, I  had  recourse  to  an  expedient  for  despatch. 
I  promised  to  leave  the  late  proprietors  vessels 
sufficient  to  carry  them  home  to  the  Island  of  Jersey, 
on  condition  that  they  immediately  fitted  out  and 
rigged  such  of  the  rest  as  might  be  required.  This 
condition  was  readily  complied  with ;  and  they  assisted 
my  people  with  unremitting  application,  till  the  busi- 
ness was  completed.  But  the  evening  of  the  25th 
brought  with  it  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  with  rain, 
which  obliged  me  to  anchor  in  the  entrance  of  Nar- 
row Shock,  where  I  rode  it  out,  with  both  anchors 
and  whole  cables  ahead.  Two  of  our  prizes,  the 
ship  Alexander  and  Sea  Flower,  had  come  out 
before  the  gale  began.  The  ship  anchored  under  a 
point,  and  rode  it  out ;  but  the  schooner,  after 
anchoring,  drove,  and  ran  ashore.  She  was  a  valu- 
able prize ;  but,  as  I  could  not  get  her  off,  I  next 
day  ordered  her  to  be  set  on  fire.  The  schooner 
Ebenezer,  taken  at  Canso,  was  driven  on  a  reef  of 
sunken  rocks,  and  there  totally  lost;  the  people 
having  with  difficulty  saved  themselves  on  a  raft. 
Towards  noon  on  the  26th,  the  gale  began  to  abate. 
The  ship  Adventure  being  unrigged,  and  almost 
empty,  I  ordered  her  to  be  burnt.  I  put  to  sea  in 
the  afternoon  with  the  brigantine  Kingston  Packet, 
and  being  joined  by  the  Alexander,  went  off  Peter 
de  Great.  I  had  sent  an  officer  round  in  a  shallop 
to  order  the  vessels  in  that  harbor  to  meet  me  in  the 
offing,  and  he  now  joined  me  in  the  brigantine  Suc« 


59  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

cess,  and  informed  me  that  Mr.  Gallagher  (the 
officer  who  had  commanded  the  party  in  that  harbor) 
had  left  it  at  the  beginning  of  the  gale  in  the  brig- 
antine  Defense,  and  taken  with  him  my  boat  and  all 
the  people.  I  am  unwilling  to  believe  that  this  was 
done  with  an  evil  intention.  I  rather  think  he  con- 
cluded the  boat  and  people  necessary  to  assist  the 
vessel  getting  out,  the  navigation  being  difficult,  and 
the  wind  at  that  time  unfavorable;  and  when  the 
gale  began,  I  knew  it  was  impossible  for  them  to 
return. 

"  Thus  weakened,  I  could  attempt  nothing  more. 
With  one  of  our  brigs  and  the  sIoojd,  I  could  have 
scoured  the  coast  and  secured  the  destruction  of  a 
large  boat  fleet  that  was  loading  near  Louisbourg, 
with  the  savage  only  to  protect  them. 

"  The  fishery  at  Canso  and  Madame  is  effectually 
destroj^ed.  Out  of  twelve  sail  which  I  took  there, 
I  only  left  two  small  schooners  and  one  small  brig, 
to  convey  a  number  of  unfortunate  men,  not  short 
of  three  hundred,  across  the  Western  Ocean.  Had 
I  gone  further,  I  should  have  stood  chargeable  with 
inhumanitv. 

"  In  my  ticklish  situation  it  would  have  been  mad- 
ness to  lose  a  moment.  I  therefore  hastened  to  the 
southward,  to  convey  my  prizes  out  of  harm's  way, 
the  Damono  brig  having  been  within  fifteen  leagues 
of  the  scene  of  action  during  the  whole  time. 

*'  On  the  27th,  I  saw  two  sail,  which  we  took  for 
Quebec  transports.  Unable  to  resist  the  tempta- 
tion, having  appointed  a  three  days'  rendezvous  on 


CAPTAIN  JONES'  SERVICE.  53 

the  S.  W.  part  of  the  Isle  of  Sable,  I  gave  chase, 
but  could  Dot  come  up  before  tbey  bad  got  into 
Louisbourg,  a  place  where  I  had  reason  to  expect  a 
far  superior  force ;  and  therefore  returned,  and  this 
day  I  joined  my  prizes  at  the  rendezvous. 

"  If  my  poor  endeavors  should  meet  with  your 
approbation,  I  shall  be  greatly  rewarded  in  the 
pleasing  reflection  of  having  endeavored  to  do  my 
duty.  I  have  had  so  much  of  stormy  weather,  and 
been  obliged  on  divers  occasions,  to  carry  so  much 
sail,  that  the  sloop  is  in  no  condition  to  continue 
long  out  of  port.  I  am,  besides,  very  weak  handed  ; 
and  the  men  I  have  are  scarce  able  to  stand  on  deck, 
for  want  of  clothing,  the  weather  here  being  ver}' 
cold.  These  reasons  induce  me  to  bend  my  thoughts 
towards  the  continent.  I  do  not  expect  to  meet 
with  much,  if  any  success,  on  my  return.  But  if 
fortune  should  insist  on  sending  a  transport  or  so 
in  my  way,  weak  as  I  am,  I  will  endeavor  to  pilot 
him  safe.  It  is  but  justice  to  add,  that  my  ofiBcers 
and  men  behaved  incomparably  w^ell  on  the  occa- 
sion. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.  etc., 
"  John  P.  Jones. 

"  The  Honorable  the  Marine  Committee, 
Philadelphia.'' 

The  following  is  the  list  of  prizes,  taken,  burnt, 
and  sunk  by  Jones  during  this  cruise  :  Brigantine 
Britannia,  Whaler;  Brigantine  Sea  Nymph,  West 
Indies;    Brigantine    Favorite,  West  Indies;  Ship 


54  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Alexander,  Newfoundland  ;  Brigantine  Success, 
Newfoundland  ;  Brigantine  Kingston  Packet, 
Jamaica ;  Brigantine  Defiance,  Jersey  ;  Sloop  Port- 
land, Whaler.  The  above  named  were  manned  and 
sent  in.  Ship  Adventure,  Jersey ;  Brigantine  Friend- 
ship, Jersey ;  Schooner  John,  London ;  Schooner 
Betsy,  Jersey  ;  Schooner  Betsy,  Halifax  ;  Schooner 
Sea  Flower,  Canso  ;  Schooner  Ebenezer,  Canso  ; 
Schooner  Hope,  Jersey. 


A  COMPLAINT.  55 


OHAPTEK  lY. 

A  COMPLAINT. 

One  of  the  objects  of  the  expedition  to  Cape  Bre- 
ton, that  of  rescuing  the  hundred  American  prison- 
ers confined  in  the  coal  pits,  was  not  effected ;  and 
other  projects  were  abandoned,  from  the  lateness 
of  the  season,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  men. 
Jones  indeed  met  with  more  success  than  he  had 
anticipated,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  ex- 
tract of  his  letter  written  to  Mr.  Morris,  and  dated 
October  17th. 

"  I  have  been  successfully  employed  in  refitting 
and  getting  the  Providence  in  readiness,  and  am 
under  the  greatest  apprehension  that  the  expedi- 
tion will  fall  to  nothing,  as  the  Alfred  is  greatly 
short  of  men.  I  found  her  with  only  about  thirty 
men,  and  we  have  with  much  ado  enlisted  thirty 
more ;  but  it  seems  the  privateers  entice  them  away 
as  fast  as  they  receive  their  month's  pay. 

"  Governor  Hopkins  tells  me  that  he  apprehends 
that  I  am  appointed  to  the  Andrew  Doria ;  she  is 
a  good  cruiser,  and  would,  in  my  judgment,  answer 
much  better,  were  she  mounted  with  12  six-poun- 
ders, than  as  she  is  at  present,  with  14  fours.  An 
expedition    of    importance  may  be   effected  this 


56  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

winter,  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  with  part  of  the 
original  fleet.  Either  the  Alfred  or  Columbus,  with 
the  Andrew  Doria  and  Providence,  would,  I  am 
persuaded,  carry  all  before  them  ;  and  give  a  blow 
to  the  English  African  trade  which  would  not  soon 
be  recovered,  bv  not  leavino^  them  a  mast  standing: 
on  that  coast.  This  expedition  would  be  attended 
with  no  great  expense ;  besides,  the  ship  and  vessels 
mentioned  are  unlit  for  service  on  a  winter  coast, 
which  is  not  the  case  with  the  new  frigates.  The 
small  squadron  for  this  service  ought  to  sail  early, 
that  the  prizes  may  reach  our  ports  in  March  or 
April.  If  I  do  not  succeed  in  manning  the  Alfred, 
so  as  to  proceed  to  the  eastward,  in  the  course  of 
this  week,  the  season  will  be  lost ;  the  coal  fleet 
will  be  gone  to  Halifax,  the  fishermen  to  Europe." 

This  cruise,  however,  of  Jones,  from  Khode  Island, 
was  attended  with  many  useful  and  some  brilliant 
results.  The  capture,  in  particular,  of  the  clothing 
in  the  Mellish,  while  it  furnished  a  seasonable  supply 
to  the  American  army,  was  a  serious  privation  to 
that  of  the  enemy.  In  his  letter  to  the  Marine 
Committee  dated  November  12th,  Jones  says : 

"  This  prize  is,  I  believe,  the  most  valuable  that 
has  been  taken  by  the  American  arms.  She  made 
some  defense,  but  it  was  trifling.  The  loss  will 
distress  the  enemy  more  than  can  be  easily  imagined, 
as  the  clothinc:  on  board  of  her  is  the  last  intended 
to  be  sent  out  for  Canada  this  season,  and  all  that 
has  preceded  it  is  already  taken.    The  situation  of 


A  COMPLAINT.  57 

Burgoyne's  army  must  soon  become  insupportable. 
I  shall  not  lose  sight  of  a  prize  of  such  importance, 
but  will  sink  her,  rather  than  suffer  her  to  fall  again 
into  their  hands." 

His  account  of  his  second  meetinsr  with  the  Mil- 
ford,  given  in  the  memorial  from  the  Texel,  is  as 
follows: 

"  On  the  edge  of  St.  George's  Bank,  I  again  met 
with  the  Milford.  The  wind  was  at  K  W.,  the 
enemy  to  windward,  and  we  on  our  starboard  tack. 
He  could  not  come  up  before  night ;  and,  in  the 
meantime,  I  placed  the  Alfred  and  the  letter  of 
marque  from  Liverpool  between  the  other  prizes 
and  the  enemy.  I  ordered  them  to  crowd  sail  on 
the  same  tack  all  night,  without  paying  regard  to 
my  light  or  signals.  At  midnight,  the  Alfred  and 
the  letter  of  marque  tacked,  and  I  afterwards  car- 
ried a  top  light  till  morning. 

"  This  led  the  Milford  entirely  out  of  the  way  of 
the  prizes,  and  particularly  the  clothing  ship  Mel- 
lish  ;  for  they  were  all  out  of  sight  in  the  morning. 
I  had  now  to  get  out  of  the  difficulty  the  best  way 
I  could.  In  the  morning  we  again  tacked;  and  as 
the  Milford  did  not  make  much  appearance,  I  was 
unwilling  to  quit  her,  without  a  certainty  of  her 
superior  force.  She  w\as  out  of  shot,  on  the  lee 
quarter  ;  and  as  I  could  only  see  her  bow,  I  ordered 
the  letter-of-marque,  Lieutenant  Saunders,  that 
held  a  much  better  wind  than  the  Alfred,  to  drop 
slowly  astern,  until  he  could  discover  by  a  view  of 


58  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  enemy's  side,  whether  she  was  of  superior  or 
inferior  force,  and  to  make  a  signal  accordingly. 

"  On  seeing  Mr.  Saunders  drop  astern,  the  Milford 
wore  suddenly,  and  crowded  sail  towards  the  N.  E. 
This  raised  in  me  such  doubts  as  determined  me  to 
wear  also,  and  give  chase.  Mr.  Saunders  steered  by 
the  wind,  while  the  Milford  went  lasking,  and  the 
Alfred  followed  her  with  a  pressed  sail,  so  that  Mr. 
Saunders  was  soon  almost  hull  down  to  windward. 
At  last  the  Milford  tacked  again ;  but  I  did  not  tack 
the  Alfred  till  I  had  the  enemy's  side  fairly  open, 
and  could  plainly  see  her  force.  I  then  tacked, 
about  ten  o'clock. 

"  The  Alfred  being  too  light  to  be  steered  by  the 
wind,  I  bore  away  two  points,  while  the  Milford 
steered  close  by  the  wind,  to  gain  the  Alfred's  wake ; 
and  by  that  means  he  dropped  astern,  notwithstand- 
ing his  superior  sailing.  The  weather  too,  which 
became  exceedingly  squally,  enabled  me  to  outdo 
the  Milford,  by  carrying  more  sail.  I  began  to  be 
under  no  apprehension  from  the  enemy's  superiority, 
for  there  was  every  appearance  of  a  severe  gale, 
which  really  took  place  in  the  night.  To  my  great 
surprise,  however,  Mr.  Saunders,  towards  four 
o'clock,  bore  down  on  the  Milford,  made  the  signal  of 
her  inferior  force,  ran  under  her  lee,  and  was  taken  !  " 

The  delay  experienced  by  Captain  Jones  at  Boston, 
where  he  arrived  with  his  prize,  in  getting  rid  of  his 
prisoners  and  being  delivered,  as  he  phrases  it,  from 
the  ^*  honorable  office  of  a  jail-keeper," — the  inaction 


A  COMPLAINT.  59 

in  which  he  was  obliged  to  remain  for  want  of  a 
command, — the  neglect  of  Commodore  Hopkins, 
from  unwillingness  or  inability,  to  tender  him  any  as- 
sistance,— and  his  being  superseded  in  the  command 
of  the  Alfred  by  the  orders  of  that  officer,  were 
circumstances  of  an  irritating  character,  which  drew 
from  him  many  letters  of  indignant  remonstrance. 

Writing  to  the  commodore  on  the  28th  of 
February,  he  says  :  "  It  is  only  necessary  for  me  to 
inform  you,  as  I  have  already  done,  that  I  am  ap- 
pointed by  a  letter  from  the  Honorable  the  Vice- 
President  of  the  Marine  Board,  dated  the  5th  cur- 
rent, to  take  command  of  the  Alfred,  Columbus, 
Cabot,  Hampden,  and  sloop  Providence,  and  to  call 
on  you  for  every  possible  assistance  within  your 
power,  to  enable  me  to  proceed  forthwith  on  a 
private  enterprise,  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
America.  The  letter  has  the  sanction  and  full 
authority  of  Congress.  It  is  written  in  their  name. 
Therefore,  sir,  I  repeat  my  application,  and  demand 
your  hearty  and  immediate  concurrence  with  me  in 
the  outfit.  It  is  in  vain  for  you  to  affect  to  dis- 
believe my  appointment. 

"  I  should  have  appeared  personally  at  Providence, 
had  you  justified  my  conduct  in  obeying  your  ex- 
press orders,  instead  of  leaving  me,  as  you  have  done, 
in  the  lurch.*     I  could  then  have  convinced  you  of 

*This  refers  to  the  action  commenced  against  Jones  for 
damages,  by  the  men  taken  from  the  Rhode  Island  privateer. 
Commodore  Hopkins  left  him  to  defend  the  suit  himself, 
saying  that  his  orders  had  not  been  given  in  writing. 


60  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

its  being  your  indispensable  duty  to  give  me  every 
possible  assistance.  When  I  placed  a  confidence  in 
3^ou,  I  did  not  think  you  capable  of  prevarication. 
I  then,  when  you  needed  friends,  gave  you  the  most 
convincing  proof  of  my  sincerity.  This  you  must 
remember.  I  have  asked  Captain  Saltonstall  how 
he  could  in  the  beginning  suspect  me,  as  you  have 
told  me,  of  being  unfriendl}^  to  America.  He  seemed 
astonished  at  the  question  ;  and  told  me  it  was  your- 
self who  prompted  it.  However,  Avaiving  ever^^thing 
of  a  private  nature,  the  best  way  is  to  co-operate 
cheerfully  together,  that  the  public  service  may  be 
forwarded,  and  that  scorn  may  yet  forbear  to  point 
her  finger  at  a  fleet  under  your  command.  I  am 
earnest  in  desiring  to  do  everything  with  good 
nature.  Therefore  to  remove  your  doubts,  if  you 
have  any,  I  send  this  by  express,  to  inform  you  that 
I  will  meet  you  at  Pawtucket,  or  at  any  other  place, 
on  as  early  a  day  as  you  please  to  appoint,  and  will 
there  produce  credentials  to  your  satisfaction.  In 
the  meantime,  it  is  your  duty  to  prevent  the  de- 
parture of  the  Cabot,  or  any  other  vessel  of  the 
squadron.  I  am  astonished  to  hear  that  you  have 
ordered  the  Hampden  out,  without  desiring  an  ex- 
planation, after  you  received  my  last  letters.  My 
appointment  was  unsolicited  and  unexpected,  and  it 
must  be  owin^:  to  the  hurrv  of  business  that  vou 
have  received  no  similar  orders.  I  am,  honored  sir, 
your  very  obliged,  most  humble  servant, 

"  J.  P.  Jones. 


A  COMPLAINT.  61 

"  P.  S.  I  have  sent  by  the  bearer  the  coat  which 
you  desired,  likewise  one  for  Mr.  Brown.  If  I  can 
render  you  any  service  here,  in  procuring  other 
articles,  acquaint  me  with  the  particulars,  and  my 
best  endeavors  shall  not  be  wanting." 

The  mixture  of  conciliatory  overtures  with  the 
peremptory  language  of  this  epistle,  shows  that 
personal  pique  was  tempered  with  a  predominating 
desire  to  serve  the  cause  of  the  country  at  all  sacri- 
fices. It  may  be  remarked,  in  passing,  that  Com- 
modore Hopkins  had  been  ordered  to  be  censured 
b}'-  the  sentence  of  a  Court  Martial ;  and  that  when 
the  rank  and  station  of  the  commanders  of  the  navy 
was  determined  by  Congress,  his  name  was  omitted. 

In  relation  to  the  manner  in  which  Jones  was 
superseded,  as  he  conceived  himself  to  have  been,  by 
junior  officers,  he  has  given  a  full  account  in  his 
letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Morris  from  Philadelphia  in 
1783,  the  whole  of  which  document  is  given  in  the 
appendix  numbered  I.  It  was  an  arrangement  of 
which  he  never  ceased  to  complain,  and  as  the 
facts  stated  by  him  are  uncontradicted,  it  seems  that 
he  had  good  reasons  for  so  doing. 

Three  grades  of  lieutenants  were  established  by 
the  act  of  Congress  of  December  22d,  1775.  Jones 
was  at  the  head  of  the  first.  At  this  time  it  is  true 
that  Congress  had  not  granted  general  letters  of 
reprisal,  nor  had  the  allegiance  of  the  colonies  to 
the  British  crown  been  renounced.  After  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  the  organization  of  the 


62  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

navy  could  only  properly  take  place,  and  the  rank 
of  its  officers  be  settled,  as  Congress  in  its  wis- 
dom should  determine.  Still  a  regard  was  due  to 
meritorious  services,  and  to  former  precedence, 
where  the  imperfect  right  was  supported  by 
them. 

The  appointment  of  Jones  to  command  the  Prov- 
idence as  Captain,  by  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  fleet,  Commodore  Hopkins,  though  it  cannot  be 
considered  as  establishing  his  rank,  was  entitled  to 
respect.  On  the  8th  of  August,  1776,  he  received 
an  appointment  as  Captain,  under  the  United  States, 
from  President  Hancock. 

Congress  had  passed  a  resolution  on  the  I7th  of 
April  preceding,  that  "  the  nomination  or  appoint- 
ment of  captains  or  commanders  should  not  establish 
rank,  which  should  be  settled  before  commissions 
were  granted ; "  and  it  was  not  until  the  10th  of 
October  following,  that  by  another  resolution  they 
settled  the  delicate  and  embarrassing  question. 
But  Jones  conceived,  as  it  was  natural  he  should, 
that  the  date  of  his  appointment  ought  not  to  have 
been  wholly  overlooked,  and  fairly  entitled  him  to 
priority  over  those  who  were  commissioned  as  cap- 
tains, for  the  first  time,  on  the  10th  of  October.  In 
what  terms  that  appointment  Avas  couched  cannot 
be  ascertained,  as  it  appears  it  was  mislaid  by  Pres- 
ident Hancock,  who  had  requested  Jones  to  leave 
it  with  him  for  a  day  or  two.  In  the  eloquent  ar- 
gument made  for  himself  by  the  latter,  in  the  re- 
monstrance in  the  appendix  to  which  we  refer,  h© 


A  COMPLAINT.  6S 

evidently  confounds  occasionally  the  terms  appoint- 
ment and  commission. 

On  this  subject  he  thus  Avrote  to  the  Marine  Board 
at  Philadelphia : 

"  I  am  now  to  inform  you,  that  by  a  letter  from 
Commodore  Hopkins,  dated  on  board  the  "Warren, 
January  14th,  1777,  which  came  to  my  hands  a  day 
or  two  ago,  I  am  superseded  in  the  command  of  the 
Alfred,  in  favor  of  Captain  Hinman,  and  ordered 
back  to  the  sloop  in  Providence  River.  Whether 
this  order  doth  or  doth  not  supersede  also  your 
orders  to  me  of  the  10th  ult.,  you  can  best  deter- 
mine ;  however,  as  T  undertook  the  late  expedition 
at  his  (Commodore  Hopkins')  request,  from  a  prin- 
ciple of  humanity,  I  mean  not  now  to  make  a  dif- 
ficulty about  trifles,  especially  when  the  good  of  the 
service  is  to  be  consulted.  As  I  am  unconscious  of 
any  neglect  of  duty,  or  misconduct,  since  my  ap- 
pointment at  the  first  as  eldest  lieutenant  of  the 
navy,  I  cannot  suppose  that  you  can  have  intended 
to  set  me  aside,  in  favor  of  any  man  who  did  not 
at  that  time  bear  a  captain's  commission,  unless 
indeed  that  man,  by  exerting  his  superior  abilities, 
hath  rendered  or  can  render  more  important  services 
to  America.  Those  who  stepped  forth  at  the  first, 
in  ships  altogether  unfit  for  war,  were  generally 
considered  as  frantic  rather  than  as  wise  men ;  for 
it  must  be  remembered  that  almost  everything  then 
made  against  them.  And,  although  the  success  in 
the  affair  with  the  Glasgow  was  not  equal  to  what 


64  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

it  might  have  been,  yet  the  blame  ought  not  to  be 
general.  The  principal  or  principals  in  command 
alone  are  culpable;  and  the  other  officers,  while 
they  stand  unimpeached,  have  their  full  merit. 
There  were,  it  is  true,  divers  persons,  from  misrepre- 
sentation, put  into  commission  at  the  beginning, 
without  fit  qualification,  and  perhaps  the  number 
may  have  been  increased  by  later  appointments ; 
but  it  follows  not  that  the  gentleman  or  man  of 
merit  should  be  neglected  or  overlooked  on  their 
account.  Kone  other  than  a  gentleman,  as  well  as 
a  seaman  both  in  theory  and  practise,  is  qualified 
to  support  the  character  of  a  commissioned  officer  in 
the  navy;  nor  is  any  man  fit  to  command  a  ship  of 
war  who  is  not  also  capable  of  communicating  ideas 
on  paper  in  language  that  becomes  his  ranlc.  If 
this  be  admitted,  the  foregoing  operations  will  be 
sufficiently  clear;  but  if  further  proof  is  required,  it 
can  easily  be  produced. 

"  When  I  entered  into  the  service,  I  was  not  ac- 
tuated by  motives  of  self-interest.  I  stepped  forth 
as  a  free  citizen  of  the  world,  in  defense  of  the  vio- 
lated rights  of  mankind,  and  not  in  search  of  riches, 
whereof,  I  thank  God,  I  inherit  a  sufficiency ;  but  I 
should  prove  my  degeneracy  were  I  not  in  the  high- 
est degree  tenacious  of  my  rnnk  and  seniority.  As 
a  gentleman,  I  can  yield  this  point  up  only  to  per- 
sons of  superior  abilities  and  superior  merit ;  and 
under  such  persons  it  would  be  my  highest  ambition 
to  learn.  As  this  is  the  first  time  of  my  having  ex- 
pressed the  least  anxiety  on  my  own  account,  I  must 


A  COMPLAINT.  g5 

entreat  your  patience  until  I  account  to  you  for  the 
reason  which  hath   given  me  this  freedom  of  senti- 
ment.    It  seems  that  Captain  Hinman's  commission 
is  'No,  I,  and  that,  in  consequence,  he  who  was  at 
first  my  junior  officer  by  eight  hath  expressed  him- 
self  as  my  senior  officer  in  a  manner   which  doth 
himself  no  honor,  and  which  doth  me  signal  injury. 
There  are  also  in  the  navy  persons  who  have  not 
shown  me  fair  play  after  the  service  I  have  rendered 
them.     I  have  ever  been  blamed  for  the  civilities 
which  I  have  shown  to  my  prisoners  ;   at  the  re- 
quest  of  one  of  whom  I  herein  inclose  an  appeal, 
which  I  must  beg  leave   to  lay   before  Congress. 
Could  you  see  the  appellant's   accomplished  lady, 
and  the  innocents,  their  children,  arguments  in  their 
behalf  would  be  unnecessary.     As  the  base-minded 
only  are  capable  of  inconsistencies,  you   will  not 
blame  my  free  soul,  which  can  never  stoop  where 
I  cannot  also  esteem.     Could  I,  which  I  never  can, 
bear  to  be  superseded,  I  should  indeed  deserve  your 
contempt  and  total  neglect.     I  am  therefore  to  en- 
treat you  to  employ  me  in  the  most  enterprising 
and  active  service,— accountable  to  your  Honorable 
Board  only,  for  my  conduct,  and  connected  as  imich 
as  possible  with  gentlemen  and  men  of  good  sense." 

"My  conduct  hitherto,"  he  says,  in  the  memorial 
addressed  to  Congress  from  the  Texal,  "  was  so  much 
approved  of  by  Congress,  that  on,  the  5th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1777,  I  was  appointed,  with  unlimited  orders, 
to  command  a  little  squadron  of  the  Alfred,  Colum. 


66  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

bus,  Cabot,  Hampden,  and  sloop  Providence.  Vari- 
ous important  services  were  pointed  out,  but  I  was 
left  at  free  liberty  to  make  my  election.  This  service, 
however,  did  not  take  place ;  for  the  Commodore, 
who  had  three  of  the  squadron  blocked  in  at  Provi- 
dence, affected  to  disbelieve  my  appointment,  and 
would  not  at  last  give  me  the  necessary  assistance. 
Finding  that  he  trifled  with  my  applications  as  well 
as  the  orders  of  Congress,  I  undertook  a  journey 
from  Boston  to  Philadelpia,  in  order  to  explain 
matters  to  Congress  in  person.  I  took  this  step 
also  because  Captan  Hinman  had  succeeded  me  in 
the  command  of  the  Alfred,  and,  of  course,  the 
service  could  not  suffer  through  my  absence.  I 
arrived  at  Philadelphia  in  the  beginning  of  April. 
But  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  that,  by  a  new  line 
of  navy  rank,  which  had  taken  place  on  the  10th 
day  of  October,  1776,  all  the  officers  that  had  stepped 
forth  at  the  beginning  were  superseded  !  I  was  my- 
self superseded  by  thirteen  men  not  one  of  whom 
did  (and  perhaps  some  of  them  durst  not)  take  the 
sea  against  the  British  flag  at  the  first ;  for  several 
of  them  who  were  then  applied  to  refused  to 
venture, — and  none  of  them  have  since  been  very 
happy  in  proving  their  superior  abilities.  Among 
these  thirteen  there  are  individuals  who  can  neither 
pretend  to  parts  nor  education,  and  with  whom  as  a 
private  gentleman,  I  would  disdain  to  associate. 

'•'  I  leave  your  Excellency  and  the  Congress  to 
judge  how  this  must  affect  a  man  of  honor  and 
sensibility. 


A  COMPLAINT.  67 

"I  was  told  by  President  Hancock,  that  what 
gave  me  so  much  pain  had  been  the  effect  only  of  a 
multiplicity  of  business.  He  acknowledged  the 
injustice  of  that  regulation,  said  it  should  make  but  a 
nominal,  and  temporary,  difference,  and  that  in  the 
meantime  I  might  assure  myself  that  no  navy 
officer  stood  in  the  opinion  of  Congress  higher  than 

mvself." 

»/ 

Jones  repaired  from  Boston  to  Philadelphia,  in 
the  beginning  of  April,  1777.  His  suggestions  as  to 
the  proper  government  of  the  navy,  and  his  projects, 
of  annoying  the  enemy,  were  listened  to  with  respect- 
ful attention.  Whatever  cause  he  conceived  him- 
self to  have  for  complaining  of  the  nominal  rank  as- 
signed to  him,  the  command  which  it  was  first  resolved 
to  give  him,  and  that  with  which  he  was  in  the  issue 
entrusted,  were  calculated  to  satisfy  his  sense  of 
what  was  due  to  his  deserts,  and  he  expressed 
himself  as  being  highly  gratified. 

In  his  Journal,  written  for  the  king  of  France, 
he  says :  "  The  President  assured  Captain  Jones  that 
this  matter  of  rank  should  be  arranged  at  a  future 
day  to  his  satisfaction,  and  in  the  meantime  he 
should  have  a  separate  command,  etc.  Three  ships 
were  ordered  to  be  fitted  out  in  the  eastern  states, 
and  Captain  Jones  was,  by  a  resolve  of  Congress, 
directed  to  take  his  choice  of  them,  ^  until  better 
provision  could  be  made  for  him.'  Captain  Jones 
spared  no  pains  to  execute  this  last  scheme ;  but  be- 
fore it  was  well  begun,  he  received  an  appointment 


eS  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

from  the  marine  and  secret  committee  to  proceed 
to  France  in  the  French  ship  Amphitrite  from  Kew 
Hampshire,  with  a  letter  to  the  American  Commis- 
sioners at  Paris,  containing  orders  to  invest  him 
immediately  with  the  command  of  '  a  fine  ship'  (the 
Indian,  built  for  America  at  Amsterdam,)  'as  a  re- 
ward for  his  zeal,  and  the  important  services  he  had 
performed,  in  vessels  of  little  force.'  His  departure 
in  the  Amphitrite  did  not  succeed,  because  the 
terms  offered  the  French  commander  were  not  ac- 
cepted." 

Speaking  of  this  resolution  of  Congress,  he  says 
elsewhere  :  "  This  was  generous  indeed  ;  and  I  shall 
feel  the  whole  force  of  the  obligation  to  the  last 
moment  of  my  life." 

"  Philadelphia,  JUay  9ih,  1777. 

"  Honorable  Gentlemen — 

"  This  letter  is  intended  to  be  delivered  to  you  by 
John  Paul  Jones,  Esq.,  an  active  and  brave  com- 
mander in  our  navy,  who  has  already  performed 
signal  services  in  vessels  of  little  force ;  and  in  re- 
ward for  his  zeal  we  have  directed  him  to  go  on  board 
the  Amphitrite,  a  French  ship  of  twenty  guns,  that 
brought  in  a  valuable  cargo  of  stores  from  Mons. 
Hostalez  &  Co.,  and  with  her  to  repair  to  France. 
He  takes  with  him  his  commission,  some  officers 
and  men,  so  that  we  hope  he  will,  under  that  sanc- 
tion, make  some  good  prizes  with  the  Amphitrite ; 


A  COMPLAINT.  09 

but  our  design  of  sending  him  is  (with  the  approba- 
tion of  Congress)  that  you  may  purchase  one  of 
those  fine  frigates  that  Mr.  Deane  writes  us  you 
can  get,  and  invest  him  with  the  command  thereof 
as  soon  as  possible.  We  hope  you  may  not  delay 
this  business  one  moment,  but  purchase,  in  such 
port  or  place  in  Europe  as  it  can  be  done  with  most 
convenience  and  despatch,  a  fine,  fast-sailing  frig- 
ate or  larger  ship.  Direct  Captain  Jones  where  he 
must  repair  to,  and  he  will  take  with  him  his  offi- 
cers and  men  towards  manning  her.  You  will 
assign  him  some  good  house  or  agent  to  supply 
him  with  everything  necessary  to  get  the  ship 
speedily  and  well  equipped  and  manned — some 
body  that  will  bestir  themselves  vigorously  in 
the  business,  and  never  quit  it  until  it  is  accom- 
plished. 

*'  If  you  have  any  plan  or  service  to  be  performed 
in  Europe  by  such  ship,  that  you  think  will  be  more 
for  the  interest  and  honor  of  the  States  than  send- 
ing her  out  directly.  Captain  Jones  is  instructed  to 
obey  your  orders ;  and,  to  save  repetition,  let  him 
lay  before  you  the  instructions  we  have  given  him, 
and  furnish  you  with  a  copy  thereof.  You  can  then 
judge  what  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  direct  him 
in,  and  whatever  you  do  will  be  approved,  as  it  will 
undoubtedly  tend  to  promote  the  public  service  of 
this  country. 

"  You  see  by  this  step  how  much  depend 
ence  Congress  places  in  your  advices ;  and  you 
must    make  it    a  point    not  to    disappoint    Cap- 


YO  LIFE  CF  PAUL  JONES. 

tain  Jones'  wishes  and  expectations  on    this  oc- 
casion. 

"We  are,  etc. 

(Signed)  "  Egbert  Morris, 

"  Richard  Henry  Lee, 
"  Wm.  Whipple, 
"  Phil.  Livingston. 

"  The  Honorable  Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and 
Arthur  Lee,  EsQL^RES,  Commissioners,"  etc. 

In  Marine   Committee. 

"  Philadelphia,  May  9th,  1777. 

"  John  Paul  Jones,  Esq. 

"  Sir, — Congress  has  thought  proper  to  authorize 
the  Secret  Committee  to  employ  you  on  a  voyage 
in  the  Amphitrite,  from  Portsmouth  to  Carolina 
and  France,  where  it  is  expected  you  will  be  provided 
with  a  fine  frigate  ;  and  as  your  present  commission 
is  for  the  command  of  a  particular  ship,  we  now 
send  you  a  new  one,  whereby  you  are  appointed  a 
captain  in  our  navy,  and  of  course  may  command  any 
ship  in  the  service  to  which  you  are  particularly  or- 
dered. You  are  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  Secret 
Committee,  and  we  are,  sir,  etc. 

(  Signed)  "  John  Hancock, 

"  Rob.  Morris, 
"  Wm.  Whipple." 

In  Marine  Committee. 
<*  Phiuldelphl^,  September  6th,  1777, 


A  COMPLAINT.  71 

**  SiE, — As  soon  as  these  instructions  get  to  hand, 
you  are  to  make  immediate  application  to  the  proper 
persons  to  get  your  vessel  victualed  and  fitted  for 
sea  with  all  expedition.  When  this  is  done,  you 
are  to  proceed  on  a  voyage  to  some  convenient  port 
in  France ;  on  your  arrival  there,  apply  to  the  agent, 
if  any  in  or  near  said  port,  for  such  supplies  as  you 
may  stand  in  need  of.  You  are  at  the  same  time 
to  give  immediate  notice,  by  letter,  to  the  Honorable 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and  Arthur  Lee, 
Esquires,  or  any  of  them  at  Paris,  of  your  arrival, 
requesting  their  instructions  as  to  your  further 
destination,  which  instructions  you  are  to  obey  as 
far  as  it  shall  be  in  your  power. 

"  You  are  to  take  particular  notice,  that  whilst  on 
the  coast  of  France,  or  in  a  French  port,  you  are, 
as  much  as  you  conveniently  can,  to  keep  your 
guns  covered  and  concealed,  and  to  make  as  little 
warlike  appearance  as  possible.  Wishing  you," 
etc.,  etc. 

Jones  had  recommended,  in  a  letter  to  a  member 
of  Congress,  that  the  Mellish  be  converted  into  a 
ship  of  war ;  and  the  secret  committee  had  passed  a 
resolution  to  that  effect ;  but  the  intention  was 
abandoned  in  consequence  of  letters  from  him.  On 
the  14th  of  June,  Congress  resolved,  "  that  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  should  be  thirteen  stripes,  al- 
ternate red  and  white :  that  the  Union  be  thirteen 
stars,  white  in  a  blue  field,  representing  a  new 
constellation."    By  another  resolution,  passed  the 


I[%  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

same  day,  Jones  was  appointed  to  command  the 
ship  Ranger ;  on  board  of  which  he  hoisted  the 
national  flag  for  the  first  time  it  was  disphiyed  on 
board  of  a  man-of-war,  as  he  had  formerly  hoisted 
the  colonial  one,  in  the  Delaware.  ( See  Appendix 
No.  II. )  He  began  to  fit  out  this  vessel  in  July  ; 
but  was  not  ready  for  sea  before  the  15th  of  Nov- 
ember following.  She  was  scarcely  half  rigged 
when  he  took  charge  of  her,  and  much  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  arming  and  equipping  her.  He 
wrote  as  follows  to  the  Marine  Committee  on  the 
29th  of  October : —  "  With  all  my  industry  I  could 
not  get  the  single  suit  of  sails  completed  until  the 
20th  current.  Since  that  time  the  winds  and 
weather  have  laid  me  under  the  necessity  of  con- 
tinuing in  port.  At  this  time  it  blows  a  very 
heavy  gale  from  the  N.  E.  The  ship  with  difficulty 
rides  it  out,  with  yards  and  top-mast  struck,  and 
whole  cables  ahead.  "When  it  clears  up,  I  expect 
the  wind  from  the  IST.  W.,  and  shall  not  fail  to  em- 
brace it,  although  I  have  not  now  a  spare  sail,  nor 
materials  to  make  one.  Some  of  those  I  have  are 
made  of  Hessings  ( a  coarse,  thm  stuff).  I  never 
before  had  so  disagreeable  a  service  to  perform  as 
that  which  I  have  now  accomplished,  and  of  which 
another  will  claim  the  credit  as  well  as  the  profit. 
However,  in  doing  my  utmost,  I  am  sensible  that  I 
have  done  no  more  than  my  duty.  I  have  now  to 
acknowledge  the  honor  of  having  received  your 
orders  of  the  6th  ultimo ;  and  that  I  have  before 
me  the  pleasing  prospect  of  being  the  welcome  mess- 


A.  COMPLAINT.  73 

enger  at  Paris  of  the  joyful  and  important  news  of 
Burgoyne's  surrender.  I  have  received  despatches 
from  the  Council  of  Massachusetts,  for  the  commis- 
sioner, b}^  express.  I  shall,  therefore,  not  go  out  of  my 
course,  unless  I  see  a  fair  opportunity  of  distressing 
the  enemy,  and  of  rendering  services  to  America." 

Twenty-six  guns  were  provided  for  the  Ranger; 
but  Jones  wrote  that  he  purposed  to  carry  no  more 
than  eighteen  six-pounders,  as  he  thought  the 
ship  incapable  of  carrying  a  greater  number  so 
as  to  be  serviceable.  He  complained  that  they  were 
all  three  diameters  of  the  bore  too  short.  He  found 
no  difficulty  in  procuring  men,  but  he  was  badly 
provided  with  stores,  having  only  thirty  gallons  of 
rum  for  his  whole  crew.  With  this  indifferent 
armament  he  sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  the  first 
of  November,  and  arrived  at  Nantes  on  the  2d  of 
December  following.  He  found  the  Eanger  very 
crank,  ovring  to  the  improper  quality  of  her  ballast; 
which  induced  him  on  his  arrival  to  shorten  her 
lower  masts,  and  ballast  with  lead. 

The  following  particulars  of  his  cruise  are  given 
in  his  letter  from  Nantes  to  the  Marine  Committee : 

"  After  passing  the  Western  Islands,  I  fell  in 
with  and  brought  to  a  number  of  ships,  but  met 
with  no  English  property,  till  within  eighty  leagues 
of  Ushant.  I  then  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  ten  sail 
with  a  strong  convoy,  bound  up  the  channel;  but 
notwithstanding  my  endenvors,  I  was  unable  to  de- 
tach any  of  them  from  tlie  convoy.     I  took  two 


74  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

brigantines  from  Malaga  with  fruit  for  London. 
One  of  the  prizes  has  arrived  here.  The  other,  I 
am  now  told,  is  in  Quiberon  Bay.  I  arrived  here 
on  the  2d  current,  without  having  met  with  any 
misfortune  on  the  passage,  though  I  met  with  some 
very  severe  weather.  Besides  the  fleet  already  men- 
tioned, I  fell  in  with  several  ships  in  the  night ;  so 
that  I  have  had  agreeable  proofs  of  the  active 
spirit  of  my  officers  and  men.  Though  they  have 
not  formerly  been  conversant  in  the  management 
of  ships  of  war,  yet  I  am  persuaded  they  will  be- 
have well,  should  I  have  an  opportunity  of  bring- 
ing them  to  action,  etc." 

He  does  not  mention  in  this  letter  the  particulars  of 
his  meeting  with  the  Invincible,  a  ship  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  which  was  giving  convoy  to  a  few  ships 
from  Gibraltar. 

He  speaks  of  the  affair  in  his  narrative  for  the 
king  of  France,  as  a  "  near  rencontre  " ;  and  in  his 
letter  from  Texel,  he  says,  "  I  could  not  help  chas- 
ing the  Invincible,  by  the  way." 

Determined  to  attend  to  the  necessary  alterations 
and  equipment  of  the  Ranger  in  person,  his  first  act 
on  arriving  at  Nantes  was  to  write  on  the  5th  of 
December  to  the  commissioners  of  Congress  at  Paris, 
—  Dr.  Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and  Arthur  Lee. 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  : 

"  I  yesterday  enclosed  you  copies  of  two  letters 
which  I  wrote  you  previous  to  my  departure  from 
Portsmouth,  together  with  a  plan  which  I  drew  up 


A  COMPLAINT.  75 

in  Philadelphia,  on  the  regulation  and  equipment  of 
our  infant  navy.  It  is  ray  first  and  favorite  wish  to 
be  emplo3^ed  in  active  and  enterprising  services, 
when  there  is  a  prospect  of  rendering  acceptable 
services  to  America.  The  singular  honor  which 
Congress  has  done  me  by  their  generous  acknowledg- 
ment of  my  past  services,  hath  inspired  me  with  senti- 
ments of  gratitude  which  I  shall  carry  with  me  to 
my  grave  ;  and  if  a  life  of  services  devoted  to  Amer- 
ica can  be  made  instrumental  in  securing  its  inde- 
pendence, I  shall  regard  the  continuance  of  such  ap- 
probation as  an  honor  far  superior  to  what  kings 
even  could  bestow. 

"  I  am  ready  to  lay  before  you  any  orders,  which 
I  have  received  from  Congress.  At  present  I  take 
the  liberty  of  enclosing  for  your  inspection  a  very 
honorable  and  unexpected  appointment,  etc.  I  have 
always,  since  we  have  had  ships  of  war,  been  per- 
suaded that  small  squadrons  could  be  employed  to 
far  better  advantage  on  private  expeditions,  and 
would  distress  the  enemy  infinitel}^  more  than  the 
same  force  could  do,  by  cruising  either  jointly  or 
separately.  Were  strict  secrecy  observed  on  our 
part,  the  enemy  have  many  important  places  in  such 
a  defenseless  situation,  that  they  might  be  effectu- 
ally surprised  and  attacked,  with  no  very  consider- 
able force.  We  cannot  yet  light  their  navy;  as 
their  numbers  and  force  are  so  far  superior  to  ours. 
Therefore  it  seems  to  be  our  most  natural  province 
to  surprise  their  defenseless  places ;  and  thereby 
divert  their  attention,  and  draw  it  off  from  the 


76  LITE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

coasts.  But  you  see  that  my  honorable  correspond- 
ent is,  and  I  know  that  many  others  are,  of  the 
same  opinion." 

The  course  here  recommended  by  Jones  was  the 
only  one  which  eventually  was  found  feasible.  He 
was  soon  summoned  to  Paris  by  the  Commissioners, 
to  consult  with  them  upon  the  measures  to  be  adopted 
for  annoying  the  enemy.  France  was  not  yet  in  open 
hostility  with  England,  nor  had  the  commissioners 
been  recognized  as  plenipotentiaries.  Jones  was 
directed  to  keep  his  guns  as  much  concealed  as  pos- 
sible while  on  the  French  coasts. 

He  was  destined  to  meet  with  a  serious  disappoint- 
ment, in  being  obliged  to  assent  to  the  transfer  of 
the  Indian,  the  "  fine  ship  "  of  which  he  had  expected 
to  receive  the  command,  and  which  was  building  at 
Amsterdam,  to  the  French  Government.  Consider- 
ing the  irritability  of  his  character,  we  do  not  find 
that  he  bore  this  miscarriage  very  ungraciously. 
Congress  certainly  had  intended  that  he  should  take 
command  of  this  vessel,  or  of  one  of  equal  force ; 
and  he  made  their  resolution  a  ground  for  claiming 
the  rank  which  such  a  command  would  have  given 
him.  But  he  submitted  to  parting  with  the  Indian 
with  tolerable  good  humor,  as  the  extracts  from  his 
letters  will  show.  This  is  mentioned,  because  he 
has  been  charged  with  writing  to  Congress  "  in  no 
very  modest  terms." 

In  his  first  despatch  from  Nantes  to  the  Marine 
Committee,  he  says : 


A.  COMPLAINT.  >f7 

"I  understand,  though  I  have  yet  received  no 
letter,  that  the  commissioners  had  provided  for  me 
one  of  the  finest  frigates  that  ever  was  built ;  calcu- 
lated for  thirty  guns  on  one  deck ;  and  capable  of 
carrying  thirty-six  pounders ;  but  were  under  the 
necessity  of  giving  her  up,  on  account  of  some  diffi- 
culties which  they  met  with  at  court.  Perhaps  the 
news  of  our  late  successes  may  now  put  that  court 
in  a  better  humor.  But  my  unfeigned  thanks  are 
equally  due  for  the  intention  as  for  the  act." 

Writing  again  to  the  same  committee,  on  the  22d 
of  December,  the  day  after  he  had  received  a  request 
from  the  commissioners  to  attend  them  at  Paris,  he 
declared  his  intention  to  proceed  to  sea  with  the 
Ranger,  without  loss  of  time,  should  there  be  any 
delay  in  obtaining  additional  force. 

In  his  narrative  for  the  king  of  France,  corrected 
by  himself,  in  speaking  of  the  "  assignment  of  the 
property  of  that  famous  frigate,  the  Indian,"  he  has 
interlined,  "  with  the  consent  of  Captain  Jones." 

Writing  to  the  Marine  Committee  subsequently, 
on  the  subject,  he  said  : 

"Deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  which  Congress 
has  conferred  upon  me  communicated  in  the  orders 
of  the  Secret  Committee  to  the  commissioners,  I  can 
bear  the  disappointment  with  philosophy.  Yet  I  con- 
fess I  was  rather  hurt,  when  at  Paris,  I  understood 
that  the  new  frigate  at  Amsterdam  had  never  been 
intended  for  me,  before  my  appearance,  but  for  the 
constructor," 


76  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

After  conferring  with  the  commissioners  on  the 
various  schemes  he  had  to  suggest,  he  returned  to 
JS^antes  to  complete  the  Hanger's  equipments,  and  on 
the  16th  of  January,  1788,  he  received  from  them 
their  instructions  as  to  his  conduct  on  the  cruise  he 
proposed  making.  They  were  as  follows,  giving 
him  almost  unlimited  discretion  ;  which  he  was 
perfectly  willing  to  assume,  though  it  seems  from 
one  of  his  despatches  that  he  did  not  understand 
the  commissioners  as  "  promising  even  to  justify 
him,  should  he  fail  in  any  bold  attempt : " 


"  Paris,  January  \^th^  1788. 
"  Captain  Jones, 

*^  Sir, — As  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  procure  3^ou 
such  a  ship  as  you  expected,  we  advise  you,  after 
equipping  the  Eanger  in  the  best  manner  for  the 
cruise  you  propose,  that  3^ou  proceed  with  her  in  the 
manner  you  shall  judge  best  for  distressing  the  ene- 
mies of  the  United  States,  by  sea  or  otherwise,  con- 
sistent with  the  laws  of  war,  and  the  terms  of  your 
commissions.".  .  .  "If  you  make  an  attempt  on 
the  coast  of  Great  Britain  we  advise  you  not  to 
return  immediately  into  the  ports  of  France,  unless 
forced  by  stress  of  weather,  or  the  pursuit  of  the 
enemy ;  and  in  such  case  you  can  make  the  proper 
representation  to  the  officers  of  the  port,  and  ac- 
quaint us  with  your  situation.  We  rely  on  your 
ability,  as  well  as  your  zeal,  to  serve  the  United 
States,  and  therefore  do  not  give  you  particular  in- 


A  COMPLAINT.  79 

structions  as  to  your  operations.  We  must  caution 
you  against  giving  any  cause  of  complaint  to  the 
subjects  of  France  or  Spain,  or  of  other  neutral 
powers;  and  recommend  it  to  you  to  show  them 
every  proper  mark  of  respect,  and  real  civility, 
which  may  be  in  your  power." 

Mr.  Arthur  Lee  did  not  approve  of  a  part  of  these 
instructions,  directing  the  sale  of  the  prizes  to  be 
entrusted  to  other  hands  than  those  of  the  commer- 
cial agents.  He  expressed  his  want  of  confidence 
in  Mr.  Gourlade,  one  of  the  persons  mentioned,  at 
rOrient,  and  did  not  sign  the  letter.  Messrs.  Frank- 
lin and  Deane  knew  of  nothing  done  by  Gourlade 
to  impair  their  confidence  in  him. 

Agreeably  to  the  suggestion  of  Jones,  they  ad- 
dressed an  intimation  to  the  crew  of  the  Kanger, 
promising  "  in  case  of  their  good  and  gallant  be- 
havior, to  recommend  them  to  Congress  for  a  gener- 
ous gratification,  proportioned  to  their  merits." 

On  the  10th  of  February,  Jones  says  in  his 
Journal  to  the  king  of  France,  "  on  receiving  ao-ree- 
able  news  of  affairs  in  America,  and  the  position  of 
Lord  Howe's  fleet,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Deane, 
one  of  the  commissioners  of  Congress  at  Paris,  con- 
taining the  plan  that  was  adopted  for  Count  d'Es- 
taing's  expedition;  which  would  have  ended  the 
war,  had  it  been  immediately  pursued." 

He  has  been  censured  for  assuming  to  himself  the 
original  merit  of  devising  this  important  measure. 
It  is  certain,  that  he  repeatedly  makes  the  assertion 


80  LITE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

that  he  furnished  the  outline  of  the  project.  (See 
Appendix  No.  III.)  In  a  letter  to  M.  De  Sartine, 
the  French  minister  of  marine,  written  subsequently, 
he  says : 

"  Had  Count  d'Estaing  arrived  in  the  Delaware  a 
few  days  sooner,  he  might  have  made  a  most  glori- 
ous and  easy  conquest.  Many  successful  projects 
may  be  adopted  from  the  hints  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  draw  up  ;  and  if  I  can  still  furnish  more,  or 
execute  any  of  these  already  furnished,  so  as  to 
distress  and  humble  the  common  enerav,  it  will 
afford  me  the  truest  pleasure."  It  may  naturally  be 
inferred  that  the  operations  of  Count  d'Estaing's 
fleet  was  a  subject  discussed  in  the  consultations 
held  by  Jones  with  the  commissioners,  on  his  first 
brief  visit  to  Paris,  though  he  does  not  intimate 
that  any  such  conversation  took  place.  It  cannot 
be  doubted  that  he  v\'as  peculiarly  qualified  to  give 
important  advice,  from  his  accurate  acquaintance 
with  the  localities  of  the  Delaware,  and  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  waters  in  the  vicinitv  of  the  scene  se- 
lected  for  the  intended  operation.  It  will  also  be 
doubted  that  his  advice  would  naturally  be  of  a 
daring  character,  recommending  bold  measures  as 
best  calculated  to  lead  to  great  results. 

There  can  be  no  reason  forimpeacliing  his  voracity, 
when  he  affirms  that  he  forwarded  his  plan  to  Mr. 
Deane  at  the  time  mentioned ;  nor  does  it  appear 
that  he  exclusively  arrogated  the  praise  due  to  the 
wisdom  with  which  the  scheme  was  conceived.  He 
put  in  a  claim  for  his  fair  share  of  honor ;  and  there 


A  COMPLAINT.  81 

is  no  evidence  against  his  title  to  it.  As  secrecy 
was  essential  in  effecting  the  proposed  object,  no 
mention  is  of  course  made  of  it  in  his  general  cor- 
respondence at  the  time.  It  failed,  as  is  well  known, 
from  the  delay  which  occurred,  and  which  enabled 
Lord  Howe  to  place  his  fleet  and  transports  in 
safety. 
6 


S%  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

AT     WHITEHAVEN. 

From  ]N"antes  Jones  proceeded  in  the  Eanger  for 
Quiberon  Bay,  whither  he  convoj^ed  some  American 
vessels,  that  desired  to  sail  out  under  the  protection 
of  the  French  squadron  in  that  road,  commanded 
by  Monsieur  La  Motte  Picquet.  From  that  brave 
officer  Captain  Jones  claimed  and  obtained  the  first 
salute  the  flag  of  America  ever  received. 

Some  days  afterwards  he  claimed  and  obtained 
the  same  honor  from  Count  d'Orvilliers,  command- 
er-in-chief of  the  fleet  at  Brest.  Both  these 
salutes  preceded  the  publication  of  the  treaty  of 
alliance. 

This  first  salute  was  not  obtained,  however,  with- 
out some  diplomacy  and  negotiation,  in  which  Jones 
showed  both  firmness  and  address.  The  following 
letters  were  written  by  him  on  the  occasion : 

''February  Uthy  1778. 
"  Dear  Sir, — 

"  I  am  extremely  sorry  to  give  you  fresh  trouble, 
but  I  think  the  Admiral's  answer  of  yesterday  re- 
quires an  explanation. 

"  The  haughty  English  return  gun  for  gun  to 
foreign  officers  of  equal  rank,  and  two  less  only  to 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  gg 

captains  by  flag-officers.  It  is  true,  my  command 
at  present  is  not  important,  yet,  as  the  senior 
American  officer  at  present  in  Europe,  it  is  my  duty 
to  claim  an  equal  return  of  respect  to  the  flag  of 
the  United  States  that  would  be  shown  to  any 
other  flag  whatever. 

"  I  therefore  take  the  liberty  of  enclosing  an 
appomtment,  perhaps  as  respectable  as  any  which 
the  French  Admiral  can  produce;  besides  which  I 
have  others  in  my  possession.  ' 

"  If,  however,  he  persists  in  refusing  to  return  an 
equal  salute,  I  will  accept  of  two  guns  less,  as  I 
have  not  the  rank  of  Admiral. 

"  It  is  my  opinion  that  he  would  return  four  less 
to  a  privateer  or  a  merchant  ship  ;  therefore,  as  I  have 
been  honored  oftener  than  once  with  a  chief  com- 
mand  of  ships-of-war,  I  cannot,  in  honor,  accept  of 
the  same  terms  of  respect. 

"  You  will  singularly  oblige  me  by  waiting  upon 
the  Admiral ;  and  I  ardently  hope  you  will  succeed 
m  the  application,  else  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity 
of  departing  without  coming  into  the  bay.  I  have 
the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc. 

"  To  WaLiAM  Carmich^l,  Esq. 

"  K  E.— Though  thirteen  guns  is  your  greatest 
salute  in  America,  yet  if  the  French  Admiral  should 
prefer  a  greater  number,  he  has  his  choice,  on  con- 
ditions." 

Writing  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Williams  on  the  follow- 


$4  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

ing  day,  he  says,  "  I  propose  to  salute  the  Admiral 
in  open  day  ;  that  no  evasion  may  afterwards  be 
made."  He  wrote  as  follows  to  the  Marine  Com- 
mittee, on  the  22d  of  February  : 

"  I  am  happy  in  having  it  in  my  power  to  con- 
gratulate you  on  my  having  seen  the  American 
flas:  for  the  first  time  recoo^nized  in  the  fullest  and 
completest  manner  by  the  flag  of  France.  I  was  off 
their  bay  the  13th,  and  sent  my  boat  in  the  next 
day,  to  know  if  the  Admiral  would  return  my  salute. 
He  answered  that  he  would  return  to  me,  as  the 
senior  American  continental  officer  in  Europe,  the 
same  salute  which  he  was  authorized  by  his  court 
to  return  to  an  Admiral  of  Holland  or  of  any  other 
Republic,  which  was  four  guns  less  than  the  salute 
given.  I  hesitated  at  this ;  for  I  had  demanded 
gun  for  gun.  Therefore,  I  anchored  in  the  entrance 
of  the  bay,  at  a  distance  from  the  French  fleet,  but 
after  a  very  particular  inquiry  on  the  14th,  finding 
that  he  had  really  told  the  truth,  I  was  induced  to 
accept  of  his  offer,  the  more  so  as  it  was  in  fact  an 
acknowledgment  of  American  Independence.  The 
wind  being  contrary,  and  blowing  hard,  it  was  after 
sunset  before  the  Ranger  got  near  enough  to  salute 
La  Motte  Picquet  with  thirteen  guns  ;  which  he 
returned  with  nine.  However,  to  put  the  matter 
beyond  a  doubt,  I  did  not  suffer  the  Independence 
to  salute  till  next  morning,  w^hen  I  sent  the  Admiral 
word  that  I  should  sail  through  his  fleet  in  the  brig, 
and  would  salute  him  in  open  day.    He  was  ex- 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  85 

ceedinglj  pleased,  and  returned  the  compliment  also 
with  nine  guns. 

"  I  have  in  contemplation  several  enterprises  of 
some  importance.  .  .  .  When  an  enemy  thinks  a 
design  against  him  improbable,  he  can  always  be 
surprised  and  attacked  with  advantage.  It  is  true, 
I  must  run  great  risk ;  but  no  gallant  action  was 
ever  performed  without  danger.  Therefore,  though 
I  cannot  ensure  success,  I  will  endeavor  to  deserve  it." 

"Writing  on  the  same  date  to  the  secret  committee, 
thanking  them  for  the  flattering  terms  in  which  he 
had  been  recommended  to  the  commissioners,  and 
his  services  been  spoken  of,  he  enclosed  an  ode  of  a 
patriotic  nature,  which  had  been  written  in  France, 
begging  that  it  might  be  laid  before  Congress,  and 
intimating  a  hope  that  the  author  would  be  con- 
sidered worthy  of  the  attention  of  that  body. 

He  says  that  at  this  time  ''  Count  d'Orvilliers, 
through  whom  he  communicated  his  idea  for  an  ex- 
pedition to  America  to  M.  De  Sartine,  offered,  on 
account  of  the  smallness  of  his  frigate,  to  procure 
for  him  a  commission  of  Captain  in  the  Royal  J^avy 
of  France,  which  he  refused." 

He  sailed  from  Brest  on  the  10th  of  April,  on 
his  first  memorable  cruise.  The  commissioners  had 
no  exact  idea  of  his  intentions.  He  "  at  first  had 
thoughts  of  striking  a  blow  on  the  south  side  of 
England  ;  but,  being  detained  for  some  time  by  con- 
trary  and  stormy  winds  at  Brest,  he  abandoned  that 
scheme."    The  most  ample  and  interesting  account 


86  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

of  this  cruise  is  given  in  his  letter  to  the  American 
Commissioners,  written  on  the  27th  of  May,  from 
Erest.  It  is  said  to  be  confirmed,  in  all  its  details, 
by  log-books  in  th  possession  of  individuals  in 
Scotland.  It  has  been  very  frequently  published, 
but  its  insertion  entire  is  essential  here. 

"  I  have  now  to  fulfil  the  promise  made  in  my 
last,  by  giving  j^ou  an  account  of  my  late  expedi- 
tion. 

"  I  sailed  from  Brest  the  10th  of  April ;  my  plan 
was  extensive,  I  therefore  did  not  at  the  beginning 
wish  to  encumber  myself  with  prisoners.  On  the 
14th  I  took  a  brigantine  between  Scilly  and  Cape 
Clear,  bound  for  Ostend,  with  a  cargo  of  flaxseed 
for  Ireland,  sunk  her,  and  proceeded  into  St.  George's 
Channel. 

"  On  the  17th  I  took  the  ship  Lord  Chatham, 
bound  from  London  to  Dublin,  with  a  cargo  con- 
sisting of  porter  and  a  variety  of  merchandise,  and 
almost  within  sight  of  her  port ;  this  ship  I  manned 
and  ordered  for  Brest. 

"  Towards  the  evening  of  the  day  following,  the 
weather  had  a  promising  appearance,  and,  the  wind 
being  favorable,  I  stood  over  from  the  Isle  of  Man 
w^ith  an  intention  to  make  a  descent  at  Whitehaven  ; 
at  ten  I  was  off  the  harbor  with  a  party  of  volun- 
teers, and  had  everything  in  readiness  to  land  ;  but 
before  eleven  the  wind  greatly  increased  and  shifted, 
so  as  to  blow  directly  upon  the  shore ;  tlie  sea  in- 
creased of  course,  and  it  became  impossible  to  effect 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  87 

a  landing.  This  obliged  me  to  carry  all  possible 
sail  so  as  to  clear  the  land  and  to  await  a  more  favor- 
able opportunity. 

"  On  the  18th,  in  Glentinebay,  on  the  south  coast 
of  Scotland,  I  met  with  a  revenue  wherry ;  it  being 
the  common  practise  of  these  vessels  to  board  mer- 
chant  ships,  the  Kanger  then  having  no  external 
appearance  of  war,  it  was  expected  that  this  rover 
would  have  come  alongside  ;  I  was,  however,  mis- 
taken ;  for  though  the  men  were  at  their  quarters, 
yet  this  vessel  outsailed  the  Eanger,  and  got  clear 
in  spite  of  a  severe  cannonade. 

"  The  next  morning,  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway,  I 
found  myself  so  near  a  Scotch  coasting  schooner, 
loaded  with  barley,  that  I  could  not  avoid  sinking 
her.  Understanding  that  there  were  ten  or  twelve 
sail  of  merchant  ships,  besides  a  Tender  brigantine, 
with  a  number  of  impressed  men  on  board,  at 
anchor  in  Lochryan,  in  Scotland,  I  thought  this  an 
enterprise  worthy  my  attention  ;  but  the  wind,  which 
at  the  first  would  have  served  equally  well  to  have 
sailed  in  or  out  of  the  Loch,  shifted  in  a  hard  squall, 
so  as  to  blow  almost  directly  in,  with  an  appearance 
of  bad  weather.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  abandon 
my  project. 

"  Seeing  a  cutter  off  the  lee-bow  steering  for 
the  Clyde,  I  gave  chase,  in  hopes  of  cutting  her  off ; 
but  finding  my  endeavors  ineffectual,  I  pursued  no 
farther  than  the  Eock  of  Ailsa.  In  the  evening  I 
fell  in  with  a  sloop  from  Dublin,  which  I  sunk,  to 
prevent  intelligence. 


8S  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

"  The  next  day,  the  21st,  being  near  Carrickfergug, 
a  fishing-boat  came  off,  which  1  detained.  I  saw  a 
ship  at  anchor  in  the  road,  which  I  was  informed 
by  the  fishermen  was  the  British  ship-of-war  Drake, 
of  twenty  guns.  I  determined  to  attack  her  in  the 
night;  my  plan  was  to  overlay  her  cable,  and  to  fall 
upon  her  bow,  so  as  to  have  all  her  decks  open  and 
exposed  to  our  musketry,  etc. ;  at  the  same  time,  it 
was  ray  intention  to  have  secured  the  enemy  by  grap- 
plings,  so  that,  had  they  cut  their  cables,  they  would 
not  thereby  have  attained  an  advantage. 

"  The  wind  was  high,  and  unfortunately  the 
anchor  was  not  let  go  so  soon  as  the  order  was 
given,  so  that  the  Eanger  Avas  brought  to  upon  the 
enemy's  quarter  at  the  distance  of  half  a  cable's 
length.  We  had  made  no  warlike  appearance,  of 
course  had  given  no  alarm  ;  this  determined  me  to 
cut  immediately,  w^hich  might  appear  as  if  the  cable 
had  parted,  and  at  the  same  time  enable  me,  after 
making  a  tack  out  of  the  Loch,  to  return  with  the 
same  prospect  of  advantage  w^hich  I  had  at  the  first. 
I  was,  however,  prevented  from  returning,  as  I  with 
difficulty  weathered  the  lighthouse  on  the  lee-side  of 
the  Loch,  and  as  the  gale  increased.  The  w^eather 
now  became  so  very  stormy  and  severe,  and  the 
sea  ran  so  high,  that  I  was  obliged  to  take  shelter 
under  the  south  shore  of  Scotland. 

"  The  22d  introduced  fair  weather,  though  the 
three  kingdoms  ^vere,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
covered  with  snow.  I  now  resolved  once  more  to 
attempt  Whitehaven;  but  the  wind  became    very 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  39 

light,  so  that  the  ship  would  not  in  proper  time 
approach  so  near  as  I  had  intended. 

"  At  midnight  I  left  the  ship  with  two  boats  and 
thirtv-one  volunteers :  when  we  reached  the  outer 
pier,  the  day  began  to  dawn  ;  I  would  not,  however, 
abandon  my  enterprise,  but  despatched  one  boat 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Hill  and  Lieutenant 
"Wallingsford,  with  the  necessary  combustibles  to 
set  fire  to  the  shipping  on  the  north  side  of  the 
harbor,  while  I  went  with  the  other  party  to  attempt 
the  south  side. 

"  I  was  successful  in  scaling  the  walls  and  spiking 
up  all  the  cannon  on  the  first  fort ;  finding  the  sen- 
tinels shut  up  in  the  guard-house,  they  were  secured 
without  being  hurt.  Having  fixed  sentinels,  I  now 
took  with  me  one  man  only  (Mr.  Green),  and  spiked 
up  all  the  cannon  on  the  southern  fort,  distant  from 
the  other  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 

"  On  my  return  from  this  business,  I  naturally 
expected  to  see  the  fire  of  the  ships  on  the  north 
side,  as  well  as  to  find  my  own  party  with  every- 
thing in  readiness  to  set  fire  to  the  shipping  on  the 
south  ;  instead  of  this,  I  found  the  boat  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Hill  and  Mr.  Wallingsford  returned, 
and  the  party  in  some  confusion,  their  light  having 
burnt  out  at  the  instant  it  became  necessary. 

"  By  the  strangest  fatality,  my  own  party  were 
in  the  same  situation,  the  candles  being  all  burnt 
out.  The  day  too  came  on  apace,  yet  I  would  by  no 
means  retreat  while  any  hopos  of  success  remained. 
Having  again  placed  sentinels,  a  light  was  obtained 


90  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

at  a  house  disjoined  from  the  town,  and  a  fire  kin- 
dled in  the  steerage  of  a  large  ship,  which  was  sur- 
rounded by  at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty  others,  chiefly 
from  two  to  four  hundred  tons  burthen,  and  lying 
side  by  side,  aground,  un surrounded  by  the  water. 

"  There  were,  besides,  from  seventy  to  a  hundred 
large  ships  in  the  north  arm  of  the  harbor,  aground, 
clear  of  the  water,  and  divided  from  the  rest  only 
by  a  stone  pier  of  a  ship^s  height.  I  should  have 
kindled  fires  in  other  places  if  the  time  had  per- 
mitted ;  as  it  did  not,  our  care  was  to  prevent  the 
one  kindled  from  being  easily  extinguished.  After 
some  search,  a  barrel  of  tar  was  found,  and  poured 
into  the  flames,  which  now  ascended  from  all  the 
hatchways.  The  inhabitants  began  to  appear  in 
thousands,  and  individuals  ran  hastily  towards  us. 
I  stood  between  them  and  the  ship  on  fire,  with  a 
pistol  in  my  hand,  and  ordered  them  to  retire,  which 
they  did  with  precipitation.  The  flames  had  already 
caught  the  rigging,  and  begun  to  ascend  the  main- 
mast ;  the  sun  was  a  full  hour's  march  above  the 
horizon,  and  as  sleep  no  longer  ruled  the  world,  it 
was  time  to  retire.  We  re-embarked  without  opposi- 
tion, having  released  a  number  of  prisoners,  as  our 
boats  could  not  carry  them.  After  all  m}^  people 
had  embarked,  I  stood  upon  the  pier  for  a  consider- 
able space,  yet  no  person  advanced ;  I  saw  all  the 
eminences  round  the  town  covered  with  the  amazed 
inhabitants. 

"  When  we  had  rowed  to  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  shore,  the  English  began  to   run  in  vast 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  91 

numbers  to  their  forts ;  their  disappointment  may 
easily  be  imagined  when  they  found,  I  suppose,  at 
least  thirty  heavy  cannon  (the  instrument  of  their 
vengeance)  rendered  useless. 

"  At  length,  however,  they  began  to  fire,  having  as 
I  apprehend,  either  brought  down  ships'  guns,  or  used 
one  or  two  cannon  which  lay  on  the  beach  at  the 
foot  of  the  walls,  dismounted,  and  which  had  not 
been  spiked.  They  fired  wuth  no  direction,  and  the 
shot,  falliBg  short  of  the  boats,  instead  of  doing  us 
any  damage,  afforded  some  diversion,  which  my 
people  could  not  help  showing,  by  discharging  their 
pistols,  etc.,  in  return  of  the  salute. 

"  Had  it  been  possible  to  have  landed  a  few  hours 
sooner,  my  success  would  have  been  complete.  ISTot 
a  single  ship  out  of  more  than  two  hundred  could 
possibly  have  escaped,  and  all  the  world  would  not 
have  been  able  to  save  the  town.  What  was  done, 
however,  is  sufficient  to  show  that  not  all  their 
boasted  navy  can  protect  their  own  coasts  ;  that  the 
scenes  of  distress,  w^hich  they  have  occasioned  in 
America,  may  be  soon  brought  home  to  their  own 
door.  One  of  my  people  w^as  missing;  and  must,  I 
fear,  have  fallen  into  the  enemies'  hands  after  our 
departure. 

"  I  w^as  pleased  that  in  this  business  we  neither 
killed  nor  wounded  any  person.  I  brought  off  three 
prisoners  as  a  sample. 

"  We  now  stood  over  for  the  Scotch  shore ;  and  I 
landed  at  noon  at  St.  Mary's  Isle,  with  one  boat 
only,  and  a  very  small  party.     The  motives  which 


93  LIFE  OF  PAtJL  J0NE3. 

induced  me  to  land  there  are  explained  in  the  within 
copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  addressed  to  the 
Countess  of  Selkirk,  dated  the  8th  instant. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  24:th,  I  was  again  off 
Carrickfergus,  and  would  have  gone  in,  had  I  not 
seen  the  Drake  preparing  to  come  out.  It  was  very 
moderate,  and  the  Drake's  boat  was  sent  out  to  re- 
con  noiter  the  Eanger.  As  the  boat  advanced,  I 
kept  the  ship's  stern  directly  toward  her ;  and 
though  they  had  a  spy-glass  in  the  boat,  they  came 
on  within  hail,  and  alongside. 

"  When  the  officer  came  on  the  quarter-deck,  he 
was  greatly  surprised  to  find  himself  a  prisoner ; 
although  an  express  had  arrived  from  "Whitehaven 
the  night  before.  I  now  understood,  what  I  had 
before  imagined,  that  the  Drake  came  out  in  conse- 
quence of  this  information,  with  volunteers,  against 
the  Ranger.  The  officer  told  me,  also,  that  they 
had  taken  up  the  Ranger's  anchor.  The  Drake  was 
attended  by  five  small  vessels  full  of  people,  who 
were  led  by  curiosit}^  to  see  an  engagement.  But, 
when  they  saw  the  Drake's  boat  at  the  Ranger's 
stern,  they  wisely  put  back. 

"  Alarm  smokes  now  appeared  in  great  abundance, 
extending  along  on  both  sides  of  the  channel.  The 
tide  was  unfavorable,  so  that  the  Drake  worked  out 
but  slowly.  This  obliged  me  to  run  down  several 
times,  and  to  lay  with  courses  up,  and  main-topsail 
to  the  mast.  At  lens^th  the  Drake  weathered  the 
point,  and  having  led  her  out  to  about  mid-channel, 
I  suffered  her  to  come  within  hail. 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  93 

"  The  Drake  hoisted  English  colors,  and  at  the 
same  instant  the  American  stars  were  displayed  on 
board  the  Ranger.  I  expected  that  preface  had  been 
now  at  the  end,  but  the  enemy  soon  after  hailed,  de- 
manding what  ship  it  w'as  ?  I  directed  the  master 
to  answer,  '  The  American  Continental  ship  Eanger  ; 
that  we  waited  for  them,  and  desired  that  they 
would  come  on  ;  the  sun  was  now  little  more  than 
an  hour  from  setting,  it  was  therefore  time  to  begin.' 
The  Drake  being  astern  of  the  Eanger,  I  ordered 
the  helm  up,  and  gave  her  the  first  broadside.  The 
action  was  warm,  close,  and  obstinate.  It  lasted  an 
hour  and  four  minutes,  when  the  enemy  called  for 
quarters;  her  fore  and  main-topsail  yards  being 
both  cut  away,  and  down  on  the  cap  ;  the  top-gallant 
yard  and  mizzengaff  both  hanging  up  and  down 
along  the  mast ;  the  second  ensign  w^hich  they  had 
hoisted  shot  J^V/^ay,  and  hanging  on  the  quarter 
gallery  in  the  water ;  the  jib  shot  away,  and  hang- 
ing in  the  water  ;  her  sails  and  rigging  entirely  cut 
to  pieces  ;  her  masts  and  yards  all  wounded,  and  her 
hull  also  very  much  galled. 

"I  lost  only  Lieutenant  Wallingsford  and  one 
seaman,  John  Dougall,  killed,  and  six  wounded; 
among  whom  are  the  gunner,  Mr.  Falls,  and  Mr. 
Powers,  a  midsl^ipman,  w^ho  lost  his  arm.  One  of 
the  wounded,  Nathaniel  Wills,  is  since  dead  ;  the 
rest  will  recov^-r.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed 
and  wounded  fras  far  greater.  All  the  prisoners 
allow  that  tbey  came  out  with  a  number  not  less 
than  a  hundred  and  sixty  men  ;  and  many  of  them 


^4  LITE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

affirm  that  they  amounted  to  a  hundred  and  ninety. 
The  medium  may,  perhaps,  be  the  most  exact  ac- 
count ;  and  by  that  it  will  appear  that  they  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  forty-two  men.  The  captain 
and  lieutenant  were  among  the  wounded;  the 
former,  having  received  a  musket-ball  in  the  head 
the  minute  before  they  called  for  quarters,  lived, 
and  was  sensible  some  time  after  the  people  boarded 
the  prize.  The  lieutenant  survived  two  days.  They 
were  buried  with  the  honors  due  to  their  rank,  and 
with  the  respect  due  to  their  memory. 

"  The  night  and  almost  the  whole  day  after  the 
action  being  moderate  greatly  facilitated  the  refit- 
ting of  both  ships.  A  large  brigantine  was  so  near 
the  Drake  in  the  afternoon  that  1  was  obliged  to 
bring  her  to.  She  belonged  to  Whitehaven,  and  was 
bound  for  JSTorway. 

"  I  had  thought  of  returning  by  the  south  channel ; 
but  the  wind  shifting,  I  determined  to  pass  hy  the 
north,  and  round  the  west  coast  of  Ireland.  This 
brought  me  once  more  off  Belfast  Lough,  on  the 
evening  after  the  engagement.  It  was  now  time  to 
release  the  honest  fishermen,  whom  I  took  up  here 
on  the  21st.  And  as  the  poor  fellows  had  lost  their 
boat,  she  having  sunk  in  the  late  stormy  weather,  I 
was  happy  in  having  it  in  my  power  to  give  them 
the  necessary  sum  to  purchase  everything  which 
they  had  lost.  I  gave  them  also  a  good  boat  to 
transport  themselves  ashore ;  and  sent  with  them 
two  infirm  men,  on  whom  I  bestowed  the  last  guinea 
in  my  possession,  to  defray  their  traveling  expenses 


AT  WHITEHAVEN.  05 

to  their  proper  home  in  Dublin.  They  took  with 
them  one  of  the  Drake's  sails,  which  would  suffi- 
ciently explain  what  had  happened  to  the  volunteers. 
The  grateful  fishermen  were  in  rapture ;  and  ex- 
pressed their  joy  in  three  huzzas  as  they  passed  the 
Ranger's  quarter. 

"  I  again  met  with  contrary  winds  in  the  mouth 
of  the  North  Channel,  but  nothing  remarkable 
happened,  till,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  Ushant 
then  bearing  S.  E.  by  S.,  distance  fifteen  leagues, 
when  seeing  a  sail  to  leeward  steering  for  the 
Channel,  the  wind  being  favorable  for  Brest,  and 
the  distance  trifling,  I  resolved  to  give  chase,  having 
the  Drake  in  tow.  I  informed  them  of  mv  inten- 
tions,  and  ordered  them  to  cast  ojff.  They  cut  the 
hawser.  The  Ranger  in  the  chase  went  lasking 
between  N.  N.  E.,  and  Isr.N.  W.  It  lasted  an  hour 
and  ten  minutes,  when  the  chase  was  hailed  and 
proved  a  Swede.  I  immediately  hauled  by  the  wind 
to  the  southward. 

"  After  cutting  the  hawser,  the  Drake  went  from 
the  wind  for  some  time,  then  hauled  close  by  the 
wind,  steering  from  S.  S.  E.  to  S.  S.  W.  as  the  wind 
permitted,  so  that  when  the  Ranger  spoke  the  chase, 
the  Drake  was  scarcely  perceptible.  In  the  course 
of  the  day  many  large  ships  appeared,  steering  into 
the  Channel,  but  the  extraordinary  evolutions  of  the 
Drake  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  avail  myself  of 
these  favorable  circumstances. 

"  Towards  noon  it  became  very  squally,  the  wind 
backed  from  the  S.  W.  to  the  W.    The  Ranger  had 


90;  LIFE  OP  PAUL  JONES. 

come  up  with  the  Drake,  and  was  nearly  abreast  of 
her,  though  considerably  to  the  leeward,  when  the 
wind  shifted.  The  Drake,  however,  was  kept  by  the 
wind,  though,  as  I  afterward  understood,  they  knew 
the  Ranger  and  saw  the  signal  which  she  had  hoisted. 
After  various  evolutions  and  signals  in  the  night,  I 
gave  chase  to  a  sail  which  appeared  bearing  S.  S.  AV. 
the  next  morning  at  a  great  distance.  The  chase 
discovered  no  intention  to  speak  with  the  Hanger ; 
she  was,  however,  at  length  brought  to,  and  proved 
to  be  the  Drake.  I  immediately  put  Lieutenant 
Simpson  under  suspension  and  arrest  for  disobedience 
of  my  orders,  dated  the  26th  ult.,  a  copy  of  which  is 
here  enclosed.  On  the  8th  both  ships  anchored  safe 
in  the  Road,  the  Ranger  having  been  absent  only 
twenty-eight  days." 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  97- 


CHAPTER  TL 
bblkibk's   platb. 

The  surprise  produced  in  Great  Britain  by  this 
daring*  and  successful  attempt  upon  her  coasts  must 
have  been  as  great  as  the  latter  was  unexpected. 

One  of  Paul  Jones'  first  acts  on  returning  to  Brest 
was  to  address  the  Countess  on  the  subject  of  the 
plate  taken  from  her  residence,  in  the  well-known 
letter,  which  we  shall  insert  here.  To  be  assured  of 
its  reaching  the  lady,  he  forwarded  triplicates,  one 
of  which  was  enclosed  open  to  Dr.  Franklin,  for  his 
perusal.  In  the  letter  enclosing  it,  he  says  :  "  I  can- 
not but  feel  myself  hurt,  by  the  dirty  insinuation  of 
the  enemy,  that  my  enterprise  at  Whitehaven  was 
in  consequence  of  a  capital  sura  ;  paid  me  in  hand  by 
the  court  of  France.  They  have  more  visits  of  the 
same  kind  to  expect,  if  I  am  not  deprived  of  the 
means  of  making  them ;  and  that,  too,  without  my 
having  either  a  certainty,  or  a  hope  of  gain." 

"  Ranger,  Brest,  May  8^A,  1778. 

"  To  THE  COTJNTESS  OF  SELKIRK, 

"  Madam, — It  cannot  be  too  much  lamented  that, 
in  the  profession  of  arms,  the  officer  of  fine  feeling 
and  of  real  sensibility  should  be  under  the  necessity 
of  winking   at    any  action  of  persons  under  his 


98  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

command  which  his  heart  cannot  approve ;  but  the 
reflection  is  doubly  severe  when  he  finds  himself 
obliged,  in  appearance,  to  countenance  such  actions 
b}^  his  authority. 

"  This  hard  case  was  mine,  when,  on  the  23d  of 
April  last,  I  landed  on  St.  Mary's  Isle.  Knowing 
Lord  Selkirk's  interest  with  his  king,  and  esteeming, 
as  I  do,  his  private  character,  I  wished  to  make  him 
the  happy  instrument  of  alleviating  the  horrors  of 
hopeless  captivity,  when  the  brave  are  overpowered 
and  made  prisoners  of  war. 

"  It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  you.  Madam,  that 
he  was  from  home  ;  for  it  was  my  intention  to  have 
taken  him  on  board  the  Eanger,  and  to  have  detained 
him  until,  through  his  means,  a  general  and  fair  ex- 
change of  prisoners,  as  well  in  Europe  as  America, 
had  been  effected. 

"  When  I  was  informed,  bv  some  men  whom  I 
met  at  landing,  that  his  lordship  was  absent,  I  walked 
back  to  my  boat,  determined  to  leave  the  island.  By 
the  way,  however,  some  officers,  who  were  with  me, 
could  not  forbear  expressing  their  discontent ;  ob- 
serving that,  in  America,  no  delicacy  was  shown  by 
the  English,  who  took  away  all  sorts  of  movable 
property — setting  fire,  not  only  to  towns  and  to  the 
houses  of  the  rich,  without  distinction,  but  not  even 
sparing  the  wretched  hamlets  and  milch-cows  of  the 
poor  and  helpless,  at  the  approach  of  an  inclement 
winter.  That  party  had  been  with  me,  the  same 
morning,  at  "Whitehaven  ;  some  complaisance,  there- 
fore, was  their  due.    I  had  but  a  moment  to  think 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  99 

how  I  might  gratify  them,  and  at  the  same  time  do 
your  ladyship  the  least  injury.  I  charged  the  two 
officers  to  permit  none  of  the  seamen  to  enter  the 
house,  or  to  hurt  anything  about  it — to  treat  you, 
Madam,  with  the  utmost  respect — to  accept  of  the 
plate  which  was  offered — and  to  come  away  without 
making  a  search,  or  demanding  anything  else. 

"  I  am  induced  to  believe  that  I  was  punctually 
obeyed  ;  since  I  am  informed  that  the  plate  which 
they  brought  away  is  far  short  of  the  quantity  ex- 
pressed in  the  inventory  which  accompanied  it.  I 
have  gratified  my  men  ;  and  when  the  plate  is  sold, 
I  shall  become  the  purchaser,  and  will  gratify  my 
own  feelings  by  restoring  it  to  you,  by  such  con- 
veyance as  you  shall  please  to  direct. 

"  Had  the  earl  been  on  board  the  Ranger  the  fol- 
lowing evening,  he  would  have  seen  the  awful 
pomp  and  dreadful  carnage  of  a  sea  engagement ; 
both  affording  ample  subject  for  the  pencil,  as  well 
as  melancholy  reflection  to  the  contemplative  mind. 
Humanity  starts  back  from  such  scenes  of  horror, 
and  cannot  sufficiently  execrate  the  vile  promoters 
of  this  detestable  war. 

"  For  they,  'twas  they  unsheathed  the  ruthless  blade, 
And  heaven  shall  ask  the  havoc  it  has  made." 

"  The  British  ship-of-war  Drake,  mounting  twenty 
guns,  with  more  than  her  full  complement  of  officers 
and  men,  was  our  opponent.  The  ships  met,  and 
the  advantage  was  disputed  with  great  fortitude  on 
each  side,  for  an  hour  and  four  minutes,  when  the 


100  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

gallant  commander  of  the  Drake  fell,  and  victory 
declared  in  favor  of  the  Ranger.  The  amiable 
lieutenant  lay  mortally  wounded,  besides  near  forty 
of  the  inferior  officers  and  crew  killed  and  wounded ; 
a  melancholy  demonstration  of  the  uncertainty  of 
human  prospects,  and  of  the  sad  reverse  of  fortune 
which  an  hour  can  produce.  I  buried  them  in  a 
spacious  grave,  with  the  honors  due  to  the  memory 
of  the  brave. 

"  Though  I  have  drawn  my  sword  in  the  present 
generous  struggle  for  the  rights  of  men,  yet  I  am 
not  in  arms  as  an  American,  nor  am  I  in  pursuit  of 
riches.  My  fortune  is  liberal  enough,  having  no 
wife  nor  family,  and  having  lived  long  enough  to 
know  that  riches  cannot  ensure  happiness.  I  pro- 
fess myself  a  citizen  of  the  world,  totally  unfet- 
tered by  the  little,  mean  distinctions  of  climate  or 
of  country,  which  diminish  the  benevolence  of  the 
heart  and  set  bounds  to  philanthropy.  Before  this 
war  was  begun,  I  had,  at  an  early  time  of  life,  with- 
drawn from  sea  service,  in  favor  of  *  calm  contem- 
plation and  poetic  ease.'  I  have  sacrificed  not  only 
my  favorite  scheme  of  life,  but  the  softer  affections 
of  the  heart,  and  my  prospects  of  domestic  happi- 
ness, and  I  am  ready  to  sacrifice  my  life  also,  with 
cheerfulness,  if  that  forfeiture  could  restore  peace 
and  good  will  among  mankind. 

"  As  the  feelings  of  your  gentle  bosom  cannot  but 
be  congenial  with  mine,  let  me  entreat  you,  madam, 
to  use  your  persuasive  art,  with  your  husband's,  to 
endeavor  to  stop  this  cruel  and  destructive  war,  ia 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  101 

which  Britain  never  can  succeed.  Heaven  can  never 
countenance  the  barbarous  and  unmanly  practice  of 
the  Britons  in  America,  which  savages  would  blush 
at,  and  which,  if  not  discontinued,  will  soon  be  re- 
taliated on  Britain  by  a  justly  enraged  people. 
Should  you  fail  in  this  (for  I  am  persuaded  that  you 
will  attempt  it,  and  who  can  resist  the  power  of 
such  an  advocate?),  your  endeavors  to  effect  a  gen- 
eral exchange  of  prisoners  will  be  an  act  of  humanity 
which  will  afford  you  golden  feelings  on  a  death-bed. 

"I  hope  this  cruel  contest  will  soon  be  closed; 
but  should  it  continue,  I  wage  no  war  with  the  fair. 
I  acknowledge  their  force,  and  bend  before  it  with 
submission.  Let  not,  therefore,  the  amiable  Countess 
of  Selkirk  regard  me  as  an  enemy ;  I  am  ambitious 
of  her  esteem  and  friendship,  and  would  do  anything, 
consistent  with  my  duty,  to  merit  it. 

"  The  honor  of  a  line  from  your  hand  in  answer 
to  this  will  lay  me  under  a  singular  obligation  ;  and 
if  I  can  render  you  any  acceptable  service  in  France 
or  elsewhere,  I  hope  you  see  into  my  character  so 
far  as  to  command  me  without  the  least  grain  of 
reserve. 

"  I  wish  to  know  exactly  the  behavior  of  my  peo- 
ple, as  I  am  determined  to  punish  them  if  they  have 
exceeded  their  liberty.  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
with  much  esteem  and  with  profound  respect, 
madam,  etc.,  etc., 

"  John  Paul  Jones." 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  plate  is  briefly  as 


102  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

follows  :  Lord  Selkirk  wrote  a  letter  in  reply  to  that 
addressed  by  Jones  to  his  Countess,  intimating  that 
he  would  accept  of  its  return,  if  made  by  order  of 
Congress,  but  not  if  redeemed  by  individual  gen- 
erosity. The  letter  was  detained  several  months  at 
London,  in  the  General  PostoiBce,  and  returned  to 
the  Earl,  who  requested  a  gentleman  to  communi- 
cate the  cause  of  its  miscarriage  and  its  tenor, 
orally,  to  Doctor  Franklin. 

The  Doctor  immediately  informed  Jones  of  the 
substance  of  this  communication.  It  was  not  until 
the  beo:innino:  of  17S0  that  the  latter  was  enabled 
to  get  the  property  he  was  determined  to  restore 
into  his  possession.  It  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  prize  agents,  from  whom  it  was  obtained  with 
considerable  difficulty  ;  and  not  till  after  several 
valuations,  and  until  it  cost  him  who  redeemed  it 
more,  as  he  intimates,  than  it  was  intrinsically  worth ; 
though  he  carefully  avoids  mentioning  that  circum- 
stance in  his  second  letter  to  the  Countess. 

When  he  had  succeeded  in  effecting  this  object, 
he  wrote  again  to  the  Countess  of  Selkirk  ;  but  his 
voyage  to  America,  and  other  circumstances,  re- 
tarded its  delivery  until  1784.  It  was  eventually 
returned  in  the  same  condition  in  which  it  had  been 
removed,  and  a  letter  from  Lord  Selkirk  acknowl- 
edged in  terms  satisfactory,  though  formal,  the  un- 
wearied pains  which  Captain  Jones  had  taken  to 
procure  its  restoration. 

The  copy  of  the  order  given  to  Lieutenant  Simp- 
son when  the  latter  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Drake, 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  103 

for  disobeying  which  he  was  put  under  arrest,  as  is 
mentioned  in  the  letter  to  the  Plenipotentiaries,  is 
said  in  the  copy  of  that  letter,  certified  from  the 
office  of  the  secretary  of  Congress,  to  be  missing.  It 
is  intimated,  upon  what  authority  does  not  appear, 
that  Simpson  had  been  insubordinate  from  the  be- 
ginning ;  that  he  excited  the  men  to  discontent ;  and 
that  frequent  disagreements  had  taken  place  between 
liim  and  his  commander. 

It  is  also  plausibly  suggested  that,  when  the  Ran- 
ger left  Portsmouth,  he  expected  to  be  in  command 
of  her  on  her  arriving  at  France,  where  a  large  ship 
had  been  promised  to  Jones.  There  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  Simpson  was  little  inclined  to  submit 
to  that  discipline,  for  which  Jones  was  so  stern  and 
rigid  an  advocate.  He  is  probably  referred  to  as  the 
wise  officer,  w^ho  objected  to  "  burning  poor  people's 
houses."  On  the  night  when  Jones  made  his  second 
attempt  to  take  the  Drake  while  at  anchor,  he  relates 
in  his  Journal  for  the  king  of  France  that  "  the  Lieu- 
tenant having  held  up  to  the  crew  that,  being 
Americans,  fighting  for  liberty  the  voice  of  the 
people  should  be  taken  before  the  Captain's  orders 
were  obeyed,  they  rose  in  mutiny  ;  and  Captain  Jones 
was  in  the  utmost  danger  of  being  killed  or  thrown 
overboard."  He  adds  that  this  danger  was  averted, 
by  an  accidental  circumstance,  —the  capture  of  the 
Drake's  boat ;  upon  which  trifling  success,  the  "  voice 
of  the  people"  was  no  longer  against  fighting. 

The  news  of  the  result  of  Jones'  expedition  was 
at  such  a  moment  gratifying  and  inspiring  to  the 


104  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES.  - 

French  court.  He  had  praises  and  promises  in  pro- 
fusion. But  he  found  himself  immediately^  under  the 
pressure  of  painful  embarrassments,  which  these 
could  not  remove.  In  the  conclusion  of  his  letter  to 
the  commissioners,  on  the  27th  of  May,  he  says : 

"  Could  I  suppose  that  my  letters  of  the  9th  and 
16th  current  (the  first  advising  you  of  my  arrival, 
and  giving  reference  to  the  events  to  my  expedition  ; 
the  last  advising  you  of  my  draft  in  favor  of  Mon- 
sieur Bersolle,  for  24,000  livres,  and  assigning  reasons 
for  that  demand ),  had  not  made  due  appearance,  I 
would  hereafter,  as  I  do  now,  enclose  copies.  Three 
posts  have  already  arrived  here  from  Paris,  since 
Count  d'Orvilliers  showed  me  the  answer  which 
he  received  from  the  minister,  to  the  letter  which 
enclosed  mine  to  j^ou.  Yet  you  remain  silent.  M. 
Bersolle  has  this  moment  informed  me  of  the  fate  of 
my  bills  ;  the  more  extraordinary,  as  I  have  not  yet 
made  use  of  your  letter  of  credit  of  the  10th  of 
January  last,  whereby  I  then  seemed  entitled  to  be 
thought  extravagant,  when,  on  the  16th  current,  I 
doubled  that  demand. 

"  Could  this  indignity  be  kept  secret  I  should 
disregard  it ;  and,  though  it  is  already  public  in 
Brest,  and  in  the  fleet,  as  it  affects  only  my  private 
credit  I  will  not  complain.  I  cannot,  however,  be 
silent  when  I  find  the  public  credit  involved  in  the 
same  disgrace.  I  conceive  this  might  have  been  pre- 
vented. To  make  me  completely  wretched.  Monsieur 
Bersolle  has  told  me  that  he  now  stops  his  hand,  not 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  105 

only  of  the  necessary  articles  to  refit  the  ship,  but 
also  of  the  daily  provisions.  I  know  not  whereto 
find  to-morrow's  dinner  for  the  great  number  of 
mouths  that  depend  on  me  for  food.  Are  then  the 
continental  ships  of  war  to  depend  on  the  sale  of  their 
prizes  for  a  daily  dinner  for  their  men  ?  '  Publish  it 
not  in  Gath  ! ' 

*'  My  officers,  as  well  as  men,  want  clothes,  and 
the  prizes  are  precluded  from  being  sold  before  far- 
ther orders  arrive  from  the  minister.  I  will  ask  you, 
gentlemen,  if  I  have  deserved  all  this.  Whoever 
calls  himself  an  American  ought  to  be  protected 
here.  I  am  unwilling  to  think  that  you  have  inten- 
tionally involved  me  in  this  sad  dilemma,  at  a  time 
when  I  ought  to  expect  some  enjoyment.  There- 
fore I  have,  as  formerly,  the  honor  to  be,  with  due 
esteem  and  respect,  gentlemen,  yours,  etc." 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  before  Jones  left  America, 
as  he  mentions  in  a  subsequent  letter,  he  was  more 
than  1,500  pounds  in  advance  for  the  public  ser- 
vice, exclusive  of  his  own  investment  in  fittincr  out 
the  Eanger,  and  had  never  received  any  compen- 
sation. 

He  was,  however,  left,  such  was  the  inability  of 
the  commissioners  to  afi'ord  him  relief,  for  more 
than  a  month  with  "  two  hundred  prisoners  of  war, 
a  number  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  a  ship,  after  a 
severe  engagement,  in  want  of  stores  and  provi- 
sions," to  depend  upon  his  own  resources. 

"  Yet,"  he  says  in  his  Journal  for  the  king,  "duj> 


100  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JOIST^S. 

ing  that  time,  by  his  personal  credit  with  Count 
d'Orvilliers,  the  Due  de  Chatres,  and  the  Intendant 
of  Brest,  he  fed  his  ])eople  and  prisoners,  cured  his 
wounded,  and  refitted  both  the  Ranger  and  Drake 
for  sea."  During  the  same  period  he  had  also  to 
contend  with  the  formal  delays  or  personal  cupidity 
of  the  prize  agents,  and  to  suppress  the  discontents 
among  the  crew,  who  were  naturally  impatient  un- 
der privation  and  misery  when  they  had  looked  for 
their  wages  and  prize  money. 

These  discontents  were  further  aggravated  by  Lieu- 
tenant Simpson,  who,  "  while  under  arrest  on  board 
the  Drake,  had  constant  intercourse  with  the  crew, 
who  thereby  became  insolent  so  as  to  refuse  duty, 
and  go  all  hands  below,  repeatedly,  before  the  Cap- 
tain's face.  It  was  impossible  to  trifle  at  that  time, 
as  Count  d'Orvilliers  had  assured  Captain  Jones 
that,  unless  he  could  get  the  Drake  ready  to  trans- 
port the  prisoners  to  America  before  orders  arrived 
from  court,  they  would  in  all  probability  be  given 
up  without  an  exchange,  to  avoid  immediate  war 
with  England.  It  therefore  became  impossible  to 
suffer  the  lieutenant  to  remain  any  longer  among 
them.  Captain  Jones  had  him  removed  to  the  ship 
called  the  Admiral,  where  the  French  confine  even 
the  first  officers  in  the  service.  He  had  there  a 
good  chamber  to  himself,  and  liberty  to  walk  the 
deck.  The  lieutenant  endeavored  to  desert  out  of  the 
Admiral,  and  behaved  so  extravagantly,  that  Count 
d'Orvilliers,  without  the  knowledge  of  Captain 
Jones,  ordered  him  to  the  prison  of  the  port,  AvherQ 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  lOY 

he  also  had  a  good  chamber ;  and  Captain  Jones 
paid  his  expenses  out  of  his  own  pocket." 

What  rendered  the  dishonor  of  his  draft  peculiarly 
vexatious,  independent  of  the  distress  to  which  it 
exposed  him,  and  the  fact  that  in  January  preced- 
ing he  had  been  furnished  with  a  bill  of  credit  on 
Jonathan  Williams  for  five  hundred  louis  d'ors, 
signed  by  the  three  commissioners,  was  the  circum- 
stance that  he  had,  under  the  sanction  of  the  Marine 
Committee,  before  leaving  Portsmouth,  made  him- 
self accountable  to  his  crew  for  the  regular  payment 
of  their  wages. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  trials  of  temper,  as  well 
as  of  fortitude  and  patriotism,  Jones  was  longing 
to  be  again  employed  in  active  service  and  in  ac- 
quiring renown ;  and  Avas  projecting  high  schemes 
for  annoying  the  enemy.  The  situation  of  the 
American  Commissioners  at  this  time  (Messrs. 
Franklin  A.  Lee,  and  Adams,  Mr.  Deane  having 
been  recalled)  is  well  known.  Their  authority  was 
limited,  and  the  funds  subject  to  their  control  were 
still  more  so.  On  the  25th  of  May,  they  wrote  to 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams,  at  Kantes,  whom  thej"  had 
appointed  commercial  agent,  as  follows :  "  The  ne- 
cessities of  our  country  demand  the  utmost  frugality, 
which  can  never  be  obtained  Avithout  the  utmost 
simplicity  in  the  management  of  her  affairs ;  and  as 
Congress  has  authorized  Mr.  W.  Lee  to  superintend 
the  commercial  affairs  in  general,  and  he  has  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Schweighauser,  and  as  your  authority 
is  under  the  commissioners  at  Paris  only,  we  think 


108  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

it  prudent  and  necessary  to  revoke,  etc.,  all  the 
powers  and  authorities  heretofore  granted  to  you, 
etc.,  to  the  end  that  hereafter  the  management  of 
the  affairs,  commercial  and  maritime,  of  America, 
may  be  under  one  sole  direction,  that  of  Mr.  Schweig- 
hauser,  within  his  district."  "  We  shall  this  day 
acquaint  Captain  Jones  how  far  it  is  in  our  power 
to  comply  with  his  desires,  and  in  what  manner." 

Such  was  the  position  in  which  Jones  found  him- 
self after  his  return  to  Brest.  In  citing  such  ex- 
tracts from  his  correspondence  as  explain  the  mul- 
tifarious difficulties  and  projects  of  this  period,  there 
seems  to  be  but  one  mode  of  avoiding  confusion, 
which  is  to  preserve  chronological  order. 

His  first  object  was  to  make  provision  for  the 
seamen.  In  mentioning  to  the  commissioners,  in 
his  letter  of  May  16th,  that  he  had  drawn  for  the 
24,000  livres,  he  says : 

''  I  mean  to  distribute  it  among  the  officers  and 
crew,  to  whom  I  owe  my  late  success.  It  is  but 
reasonable  that  they  should  be  furnished  with  the 
means  of  procuring  little  necessaries  and  comforts 
of  life  for  themselves ;  and  the  interests  of  the  serv- 
ice, as  well  as  the  claims  of  humanity  and  justice, 
plead  in  behalf  of  their  wives  and  helpless  families, 
who  are  now  unprovided  in  America,  and  will  nat- 
urally expect  a  supply  of  clothing,  etc.,  by  the 
Drake." 

On  the  27th  of  May,  Franklin  wrote  to  Jones  as 
follows  : 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  109 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  received  yours  of  the  18th,  enclos- 
ing one  for  the  Countess  of  Selkirk,  which  I  for- 
warded this  day,  via  Holland.  It  is  a  gallant  letter, 
and  must  give  her  ladyship  a  high  and  just  opinion 
of  your  gallantry  and  nobleness  of  mind.  The  dirty 
insinuation  you  mention  is  of  a  piece  with  many 
others  from  the  same  quarter,  the  natural  produce 
of  base  minds  ;  who,  feeling  no  other  motive  can 
exist  in  others,  and  therefore  it  is  to  that  alone, 
they  ascribe  the  most  praiseworthy  actions. 

"  The  Jersey  privateers  do  us  a  great  deal  of 
mischief  by  intercepting  our  supplies.  It  has  been 
mentioned  to  me  that  your  small  vessel,  commanded 
by  so  brave  an  officer,  might  render  great  service  by 
following  them  where  greater  ships  dare  not  venture 
their  bottoms  ;  or,  being  accompanied  and  supported 
by  some  frigates  from  Brest,  at  a  proper  distance, 
might  draw  them  out  and  then  take  them.  I  wish 
you  to  consider  of  this,  as  it  comes  from  high  au- 
thority, and  that  you  would  immediately  think  of 
it,  and  let  me  know  when  your  ship  will  be  ready. 
I  have  written  to  England  about  the  exchange  of 
your  prisoners.  I  congratulate  you  most  cordially 
on  your  late  success,  and  wish  for  a  continuance  and 
increase  of  the  honor  you  have  acquired." 

While  the  matter  and  manner  of  the  beginning  of 
this  letter  were  well  calculated  to  give  Jones  pleasure, 
his  own  phraseology  being  nearly  echoed,  it  afforded 
no  prospect  of  immediate  relief.  No  mention  is 
made  of  the  draft ;  and  the  service  proposed  was 


110  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

not  of  such  a  character  as  was  particularly  calculated 
to  gratify  the  appetite  of  any  ambitious  commander, 
just  flushed  with  success ;  much  less  that  of  Jones, 
who  would  thus  have  been  made  subservient  to  the 
objects  of  others,  Avho  would  reap  the  glory  while  he 
was  playing  the  humbler  part  of  hunting  out  game 
for  them.  In  his  reply,  however,  he  declares  his 
readiness  to  comply,  while  he  intimates  very  plainly 
his  longing  for  more  dignified  employment.  This 
is  not  unskilfully  introduced.  The  letter,  dated 
June  1st,  is  as  follows : 

"  His  Excellency  Benjamin  Feanklin, 

^•'Honored  and  Dear  Sir, — Accept  my  grateful 
thanks  for  your  much  esteemed  favor  of  the  27th 
ult.  Such  a  mark  of  your  good  opinion  and  appro- 
bation really  affords  me  the  most  heartfelt  satisfac- 
tion. It  shall  always  be  my  ambition  to  do  my 
duty,  as  far  as  my  judgment  and  small  abilities 
enable  me ; — but  you  will  see  by  the  within  papers, 
that  my  roses  are  not  without  thorns  ;  and,  perhaps, 
it  will  seem  romance  that  I  have  succeeded,  which 
I  am  sure  I  should  not  have  done,  had  I  not  been 
my  own  counselor. 

"  Nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to 
render  essential  services  to  America,  in  any  measure 
which  you  may  find  expedient.  Should  I  be  able 
to  lead  m}^  present  crew,  it  can  be  done  onl}^  by  the 
seldom  failing  bait  for  sordid  minds,  great  views  of 
interest. 

"If  in  bringing  about  the  plans  you  propose,  I 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  HI 

may  take  the  liberty  to  assure  them  of  the  protection 
of  the  French  flag,  in  the  channel,  against  enemies  of 
superior  force,  with  the  free  liberty  to  attack,  and 
take  under  that  sanction,  such  of  the  enemy's  ships  of 
war,  or  merchantmen,  as  may  be  met  with,  of  equal 
or  inferior  force,  perhaps  I  may  succeed  and  gain 
them  over  by  that  means,  nor  will  it  be  necessary  to 
tell  them  our  real  object. 

"  If  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  give  them  such  assur- 
ances, and  their  home-sickness  should  continue,  I 
could  wish  that  such  officers  as  may  appear  danger- 
ously ill  might  have  liberty  to  lay  down  their  com- 
missions and  warrants,  and  that  others  may  be  given 
to  men  of  stronger  nerves,  who  would  be  too  proud 
to  think  themselves  servants  by  the  year.  I  believe 
many  such  may  be  found  among  American  subjects 
in  France. 

"  If  it  should  be  consistent  to  order  the  Boston 
frigate  here  from  Bordeaux,  perhaps  such  exchanges 
might  be  made  as  would  be  for  the  interest  and 
harmony  of  the  service ;  and  we  might  perhaps  be 
able  to  assemble  a  sufficient  number  of  officers  to 
form  a  court. 

"  The  Due  de  Chatres  has  shown  me  sundry  at- 
tentions, and  expressed  his  inclination  to  facilitate 
my  obtaining  the  ship  built  at  Amsterdam.  I  be- 
lieve I  could  easily  obtain  letters  to  the  same  effect, 
from  the  principal  people  here,  but  shall  take  no 
step  without  your  approbation.  If  the  prisoners 
should  be  exchanged  in  Europe,  I  believe  it  would 
be  possible  to  man  that  ship  with  Americans.    I 


112  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

could  have  manned  two  such  with  French  volunteers 
since  I  arrived. 

*'  The  Eanger  is  crank,  sails  slow,  and  is  of  a 
trifling  force.  Most  of  the  enemy's  cruisers  are 
more  than  a  match,  yet  I  mean  not  to  complain.  1 
demand  nothing ;  and  although  I  know  that  it  was 
the  intention  of  Congress  to  give  me  that  ship,  I  am 
now  ready  to  go  wherever  the  service  calls  me. 

"  If  two  or  three  fast  sailing  ships  could  be  col- 
lected, there  is  a  great  choice  of  private  enter- 
prises, some  of  which  might  succeed,  and  add  more 
to  the  interest  and  honor  of  America  than  cruising 
w^ith  twice  the  force.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  the 
province  of  our  infant  navy  to  surprise,  and  spread 
alarms  with  fast  sailing  ships.  When  we  grow 
stronger,  we  can  meet  their  fleets,  and  dispute  with 
them  the  sovereignty  of  the  ocean.  These  are  my 
private  sentiments,  and  are  therefore  submitted 
with  the  utmost  diffidence  to  your  superior  under- 
standing. 

"  Both  the  Ranger  and  the  Drake  were  so  much 
disabled  that  they  needed  to  be  entirely  new  rigged. 
We,  however,  made  shift  from  the  wreck  of  both 
ships  to  rig  the  Drake,  which  is  now  completed. 
The  Ranger's  late  rigging  was  twice  laid  and  much 
too  thick  and  heavy.  The  relitting  her  shall  be 
continued  with  unremitting  application." 

He  thus  complains  of  the  detention  of  the  cap- 
tors' part  of  one  of  the  Ranger's  prizes  by  Mr. 
Delap,  a  nominal  sub-prize  agent,  and  of  the  sacri- 
fice of  another  prize  at  Nantes.     Half  the  proceeds 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  113 

of  the  latter  was  all  the  prize  money  yet  received. 
In  a  postscript  he  says  :  "  The  written  papers  I  send 
you  in  confidence ;  leaving  it  to  you  to  show  them 
or  not  to  such  persons  as  you  may  think  proper." 

The  letter  addressed  by  the  commissioners  to 
Jones,  on  the  2oth  of  May,  referred  to  in  their  letter, 
to  Mr.  Jonathan  Williams,  of  the  same  date,  is  not 
among  any  of  the  published  documents  or  manu- 
scripts before  the  compiler.  In  it,  according  to  their 
letter  to  Mr.  Williams,  they  "  acquainted  Captain 
Jones  howjar  it  was  in  their  power  to  comply  with 
his  desires,  and  in  what  manner."  He  thus  wrote 
in  reply  on  the  3d  of  June : 

"  Gentlemen, — 

"  Your  letter  of  the  25th  ult.  I  received  by  yes- 
terday's post.  I  frankly  ask  your  pardon  for  the 
undue  liberty  I  took  on  the  16th  ult.  when  I  ventured 
to  sign  a  draft  upon  you  for  the  purpose  of  supply- 
ing the  people  under  my  command  with  necessary 
clothing,  etc. ;  and  I  promise  you  never  to  be  guilty 
of  the  like  offense  again.  I  hope  you  do  not,  how- 
ever, mean  to  impute  to  me  a  desire  to  receive 
*  presents  of  the  public  money,'  or  even  to  touch  a 
dollar  of  it,  for  any  private  purpose  of  my  own. 
On  the  contrary,  I  need  not  now  assert  that  I 
stepped  forth  at  the  beginning  from  nobler  motives. 
My  accounts,  before  I  left  America,  testify  that  I 
am  more  than  fifteen  hundred  pounds  in  advance 
for  the  public  service,  exclusive  of  any  concern 
with  the  Eanger;   and  as  for  wages,  I  never  re- 


114  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

ceived  any.  Had  I  not  previously  determined  to 
keep  the  prisoners  here,  they  would  have  been  sent 
away  in  the  Drake,  long  before  now.  My  embar- 
rassed situation  will,  in  the  eyes  of  candor,  apologize 
for  my  not  sending  you  a  more  early  information  of 
the  particulars  of  my  cruise,  and  of  the  prizes  which  I 
have  made.  On  ray  passage  from  America  I  took 
two  brigantines,  both  from  Malaga  for  England. 
The  one  arrived  safe  at  Nantes ;  and  being  sold  by 
Messrs.  Morris  and  Williams,  the  captors'  part  was 
paid  to  them.  The  other  arrived  at  Bordeaux, 
and  was,  I  understand,  sold  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Delap, 
who,  though  he  had  my  orders  to  remit  the  captors' 
part  immediately  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Williams  of 
!N"antes,  yet  still  retains  it  in  his  own  hands.  On 
my  late  expedition,  three  prizes  were  sunk.  The 
ship  Lord  Chatham  was  sent  here  (to  Brest)  to  re- 
main under  the  care  of  the  Intendant.  She  now  re- 
mains in  the  port,  locked  and  nailed  up  under  a 
guard.  The  ship-of-war  Drake,  with  her  stores  on 
board,  and  the  brigantine  Patience  in  ballast,  are 
with  the  Ranger  at  anchor  in  the  Eoad.  M.  de 
Sartine  can  inform  you  that  the  sales  of  the  prizes 
are  precluded,  until  he  sends  further  orders  here. 
Had  it  been  otherwise,  I  cannot  see  how  you  could 
suppose  that  I  had  created  agents  to  dispose  of  the 
public  property.  And  yet  if  I  had  done  this,  per- 
haps my  public  wants  would  justif}^  me. 

"  The  rules  whereby  Congress  has  been  pleased  to 
command  me  to  regulate  the  conduct  in  the  navy, 
authorizes  me  to  issue  my  warrant  to  the  agent, 


SELKIRK'S  PLATE.  115 

etc.,  and  I  humbly  conceive  that  it  is  his  province  to 
furnish  me  with  an  estimate  of  the  amount  of  ex- 
penses. If  you  wish  for  an  estimate  from  me,  unac- 
quainted as  I  am  with  prizes,  besides  the  delay,  it 
may  be  very  far  from  exact. 

"  When  you  determined  to  change  the  continental 
ao:ent,  I  could  wish  vou  had  sent  that  information 
in  a  letter  to  meet  me  here  on  my  arrival — as  I  had 
advised  you  of  my  intention  to  return  to  Brest.  All 
disagreeable  altercation  might  then  have  been 
avoided.  My  situation  is  not  now  mended  by  your 
last,  the  gentleman  being  at  Nantes,  and  no  person 
appearing  in  his  behalf  at  Brest. 

"  A  space  of  sixteen  months  is  now  elapsed  since 
Congress  thought  of  me,  and  placed  under  my  com- 
mand seven  times  my  present  force,  leaving  me  at 
liberty  how  and  where  to  apply  it.  And  if  I  am 
not  now  capable  of  supporting  the  internal  govern- 
ment of  a  single  sloop-of-war,  I  wish  that  some  per- 
son more  deserving  had  my  place,  and  I  in  America 
to  answer  for  my  misconduct.  I  have  '  well  con- 
sidered '  and  yet  shall  persist  in  justifying  the  steps 
which  I  have  taken,  and  to  which  you  allude. 

"  I  am  happy  in  having  it  in  my  power  to  furnish 
you  with  the  enclosed  resolution  of  Congress,  re- 
specting the  capture  of  the  enemy's  ships-of-war, 
agreeably  to  your  desire  ;  and,  if  you  are  in  posses- 
sion of  any  resolution  of  Congress  which  will  author- 
ize me  to  .  .  .  send  to  America,  I  should  be  obliged 
to  you  for  a  copy  of  it," 


11^  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

DISAPPOINTMENT. 

From  this  day  until  many  months  had  passed 
Jones  was  doomed  to  the  most  irritating  disappoint- 
ments. He  wrote  in  part  to  the  newly-appointed 
commercial  agent : 

"  In  a  word,  if  you  consider  yourself  the  agent  or 
instrument  for  victualing  and  repairing  the  ships-of- 
"war  of  the  American  navy,  as  I  came  here  in  distress 
the  8th  ult.  in  want  of  provisions,  with  a  number  of 
wounded  men  and  prisoners,  you  have  not  done  your 
duty ;  as  you  have  not,  to  this  hour,  given  or 
offered  me  any  assistance;  thereby  3^ou  have  oc- 
casioned a  loss  of  money  and  time  to  the  United 
States.  It  was  your  duty  to  have  appeared  on  the 
spot,  and  to  have  ministered  to  our  wants.  If,  on 
the  contrary,  as  I  rather  think,  you  consider  your- 
self only  as  the  instrument  for  selling  the  continental 
part  of  prizes,  yet  in  this  case,  too,  you  have  not 
done  your  duty.  It  was  your  duty  to  have  appeared 
at  Brest,  to  have  taken  care  of  the  public  property, 
and  to  have  brought  on  the  sales ;  whereas  some  of 
it  may  now  be  perishing,  through  your  absence  and 
neglect.  I  have  been  thus  explicit,  that  you  may 
not  henceforth  misunderstand  me ;  and  that,  so  far 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  1^7 

as  we  may  be  connected,  we  may  henceforth  co- 
operate for  the  public  good  of  the  American  United 
States." 

Then  it  was,  June  1st,  1778,  Franklin  wrote  to 
Jones : 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  that  it  is 
proposed  to  give  you  the  command  of  the  great  ship 
we  have  built  at  Amsterdam.     By  what  you  wrote 
to  us  formerly,  I   have  ventured  to  say  in  your  be- 
half, that  this  proposition  would  be  agreeable  to 
you.     You  will  immediately  let  me  know  your  res- 
olution; which,  that   you   may   be   more  clear  in 
taking,  I  must  inform  3^oa  of  some  circumstances. 
She  is  at  present  the  property  of  the  king ;  but  as 
there  is  no  war  yet  declared,  you  will  have   the 
commission  and  flag  of  the  States,  and  act  under 
their  orders  and  laws.     The  Prince  de  Is'assau  will 
make  the  cruise  with  you.     She  is  to  be  brought 
here  under  cover  as  a  French  merchantman,  to  be 
equipped  and  manned  in  France.     We  hope  to  ex- 
change your  prisoners  for  as  many  American  sailors ; 
but  if  that  fails,  you  have  your  present  crew  to  be 
made  up  here  with  other  nations  and  French.     The 
other  commissioners  are  not  acquainted  with  this 
proposition  as  yet ;  and  you  see  by  the  nature  of  it, 
that  it  is  necessary  to  be  kept  a  secret  till  we  have 
got  the  vessel  here,  for  fear  of  difficulties  in  Holland, 
and  interception;  you   will  therefore  direct  your 
answer  to  me  alone.    It  being  desired  that  the  affair 


lis  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

should  rest  between  you  and  me,  perhaps  it  may 
be  best  for  you  to  take  a  trip  up  here  to  concert 
matters,  if  in  general  you  approve  of  the  idea.'' 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  Jones  was  delighted 
by  the  prospect,  and  much  correspondence  passed 
between  him  and  Benjamin  Franklin  relative  to  the 
scheme.  It  seemed  necessary  Jones  should  go  to 
Yersailles,  and,  full  of  hope  he  set  out ;  but  before 
leaving  he  wrote  in  his  journal  relative  to  Simpson  : 

"Finding  the  lieutenant  appeared  more  reason- 
able than  formerly,  he  took  his  parole  in  writing, 
not  to  serve  again  in  the  navy  before  he  was  ac- 
quitted by  a  court-martial,  and  set  him  at  liberty. 
A  day  or  two  afterwards,  the  commissioners  thought 
fit  to  interfere  respecting  the  lieutenant  of  the 
Ranger,  which,  it  is  presumed,  they  had  no  au- 
thority to  do,  as  it  laid  the  ax  to  the  root  of  in- 
subordination.'' 

He  proceeds  to  say  that  "  having  the  prisoners 
still  under  his  care,  the  prizes  being  unsold,  and  the 
crew  naked,  Captain  Jones,  having  completely  re- 
fitted the  Eanger,  had  no  immediate  business  at 
Brest ;  and  therefore  went  privately  up  to  Yer- 
sailles, on  the  invitation  of  the  Court."  On  the  16th 
of  June,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  commissioners, 
from  Passy,  in  which  he  says : 

"  At  the  time  when  I  took  Lieutenant  Simpson's 
parole,  I  did  not  expect  to  have  been  so  long  absent 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  II9 

from  America;  but  as  circumstances  have  now- 
rendered  the  time  of  my  return  less  certain,  I  am 
willing  to  let  the  dispute  between  us  drop  forever, 
by  giving  up  that  parole,  which  will  entitle  him  to 
command  the  Eanger.  I  have  no  malice,  and  if  I 
have  done  him  any  injury,  this  will  be  making  him 
all  the  present  satisfaction  in  my  power.  If,  on  the 
contrary,  he  has  injured  me,  I  will  trust  for  an 
acknowledgment." 

The  very  event  which  arrayed  the  fleets  of  France 
and  England  against  each  other,  deprived  Jones  of 
the  command  of  the  "  great  ship "  at  Amsterdam. 
He  says  in  his  journal  for  the  king  :  "  The  action  of 
the  Belle  Poule,  which  began  the  war  between 
France  and  England,  deranged  the  plan  in  contem- 
plation, and  greatly  interfered  with  the  views  of 
court  respecting  Captain  Jones.  It  was  understood 
the  States  of  Holland  made  great  diflficulty,  respect- 
ing the  Indian,  that  still  remained  at  Amsterdam. 
Captain  Jones  oflPered  to  give  up  the  project,  and 
return  to  the  Eanger.  To  prevent  this,  the  minister 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  commissioners,  requesting  their 
permission  for  Captain  Jones  to  remain  for  a  time 
in  Europe,  where  he  would  be  honorably  employed 
to  promote  the  common  cause." 

The  embryo  schemes  agitated  between  Jones, 
Franklin,  and  the  minister,  whatever  they  may 
have  been,  were  abandoned,  as  well  as  the  command 
of  the  Indien.  In  reply  to  the  request  of  the  latter, 
above  alluded  to,  the  commissioners  acquiesced,  in 


120  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  following  terms  :  "  "We  readily  consent  that  he 
should  be  at  your  excellency's  disposition  ;  and  shall 
be  happy  if  his  services  may  be  in  any  respect  use- 
ful to  the  designs  your  excellency  may  have  in  con- 
templation." 

It  was  well  known  that  the  king  contemplated 
loaning  the  frigate  Epervier  to  the  United  States, 
with  the  understanding  that  she  was  to  be  com- 
manded by  Jones,  and  the  latter  lost  no  time  in 
addressing  M.  de  Sartine  a  letter  of  thanks  for  the 
honor  thus  bestowed. 

The  offer  of  the  Epervier  was  little  more  than  a 
compliment.  The  ratifications  of  the  treaties  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  France  were  ex- 
changed on  the  same  day  on  which  the  foregoing 
letter  was  written.  War  had  not  even  yet  been 
formally  declared,  but  had  in  fact  begun  at  sea, 
with  large  preparations  on  both  sides.  A  violent 
impress  had  been  made  in  England  among  the  crews 
of  merchantmen,  and  France  required  all  her  own 
seamen.  The  commissioners,  or  more  properh^,  the 
plenipotentiaries,  found  great  difficulty  in  procuring 
loans,  even  in  small  amounts,  and  were  apprehensive 
that  they  would  not  be  able  to  meet  the  drafts  of 
Congress  for  the  interest  of  certificates. 

!N^egotiations  on  various  points,  growing  out  of  the 
treaties,  the  intimation  that  England  would  recognize 
the  independence  of  America,  provided  the  latter 
would  make  a  separate  peace,  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  commissioners.  M.  de  Sartine  entertained 
one  of  the  numerous  projects  which  Jones  had  sub- 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  121 

mitted  to  him,  either  to  appease  his  impatience,  or 
with  the  real  intention  of  carrying  it  into  execu- 
tion. This  was  the  capture  or  destruction  of  the 
Baltic  fleet.  He  says,  in  his  Journal,  "  For  this  ob- 
ject three  frigates  and  two  cutters  were  destined  ; 
and  Captain  Jones  appointed  to  command  the 
whole." 

On  the  10th  of  August,  1778,  Jones  left  Passy 
for  Brest,  in  anticipation  of  receiving  this  com- 
mand ;  but  arrived  only  to  find  that  the  honor  had 
been  bestowed  by  Count  d'Orvilliers  upon  a  French 
officer. 

It  may  be  readily  supposed  that  he  was  not  in 
the  best  possible  humor  to  brook  what  he  conceived 
to  be  a  downright  indignity  offered  to  himself.  Yet 
such  he  had  to  encounter.  It  will  be  recollected 
that  on  the  16th  of  June,  he  had  offered  to  give  up 
the  parole  of  Lieutenant  Simpson,  and  on  the  4th 
of  July,  had  consented  to  let  him  take  command  of 
the  ship.  The  lieutenant  was  not  backward  in  ac- 
cepting these  concessions,  and  it  appears  he  went 
much  farther. 

Jones  wrote  to  the  commissioners  in  an  indignant 
strain,  and  also  to  Captain  Abraham  Whipple,  who 
was  then  at  Brest,  asking  that  a  court-martial  be 
summoned  for  the  trial  of  Simpson. 

This  request  was  refused  on  the  grounds  that 
there  were  not  a  sufficient  number  of  American  of- 
ficers then  in  France.  Jones  says,  "  Simpson  took 
command  of  the  Banger,  without  accepting  the  Cap- 
tain's proposal,  or  having  his  parole  given  up.     On 


lis  LIFE  or  PAUL  J0NE8. 

the  contrary,  it  seemed  afterwards  he  rather  gave 
out  that  Capain  Jones  had  been  called  to  account 
by  the  commissioners,  and  turned  out  to  make  way 
for  him." 

Lieutenant  Simpson  sailed  in  the  Eanger  for 
America.  On  the  30th  of  August,  the  Captain's 
friend,  Mr.  Williams,  writing  to  him  from  Nantes 
in  relation  to  the  pending  sale  of  the  Drake,  said : 

"  I  am  sorry  your  affair  with  Lieutenant  Simpson 
was  not  settled  with  mutual  satisfaction.  If  he  was 
not  gone,  I  should  answer  his  charge  of  falsehood 
with  the  following  paragraph  of  his  own  letter  to 
me,  of  the  1st  of  August,  to  mine,  which  you  say 
he  calls  false,  viz.,  '  I  recollect  my  telling  you  when 
at  Brest  that,  if  Captain  Jones  had  condescended 
to  have  made  any  inquiry,  or  permitted  me  to  speak 
to  him  on  the  matter  of  my  confinement,  I  was  ready 
to  give  him  any  satisfaction  consonant  to  truth.'  It 
is  stranofe  he  should  recollect  this  when  he  wrote  me 
the  letter,  and  forget  it  again  when  he  told  Mr.  Hill 
it  was  false.  Lieutenant  Simpson's  letter  to  me  is 
in  very  respectful  terms,  and  I  wrote  him  a  letter  of 
thanks  in  return.  He  desired  me  in  it  to  present  his 
respects  to  you,  and  to  tell  you  that  '  your  recom- 
mendation to  the  commissioners,  which  I  mentioned, 
would,  with  any  services  you  had  done  him,  be  ever 
remembered  with  gratitude.  This  gave  me  great 
pleasure,  etc'  " 

The  Providence,  Boston,  and  Eanger  arrived 
$af e  in  America,  having  taken  two  or  three  mer^ 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  123 

chant  vessels.  Lieutenant  Simpson  was  not  after- 
wards employed  in  the  continental  service.  In 
February  following,  the  commissioners  addressed  a 
letter  to  Jones,  stating  that,  as  his  separation  from 
the  Ranger,  and  the  appointment  of  Lieutenant 
Simpson  to  the  command  of  her  would  be  liable  to 
misinterpretations,  they  certified  that  his  leaving 
her  was  by  their  consent,  at  the  express  request  of 
M.  de  Sartine,  who  informed  them  that  he  had  oc- 
casion to  employ  Jones  in  some  public  service ;  that 
Simpson  was  appointed  to  the  command  by  the  con- 
sent of  Jones,  who  had  released  him  from  the 
arrest  he  had  placed  him  under ;  that  Jones'  rank 
in  the  navy  was  not  prejudiced  by  his  leaving  the 
Ranger ;  and  that  his  commission  remained  in  full 
force. 

After  this  Jones  wrote  to  the  Prince  of  Nassau, 
imploring  the  latter  to  interest  himself  in  his  behalf, 
and  begging  that  the  command  of  the  frigate 
L'Orient  be  given  him. 

On  the  28th  he  wrote  pressingly  to  Count 
d'Orvilliers  for  directions  to  M.  Pr^valdye  to  per- 
mit his  embarkation  with  the  fleet,  should  a  vessel 
be  sent  in  with  letters.  "  I  ardently  wish,"  he  says 
"  to  attend  you  with  my  eyes,  even  to  the  pinnacle 
of  fame ;  and  to  learn  from  so  great  and  good  a 
general  how  I  may  hereafter  ascend  the  slippery 
precipices,  beyond  which  the  edifice  is  erected." 

M.  Pr6valJlye,  the  commandant,  who  did  not  feel 
at  liberty  to  allow  the  captain  to  go  on  board  of  the 
fleet,  also  refused  to  furnish  any  guard  for  the 


124  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

prisoners,  after  the  armed  vessels  of  France  had  left 
the  port. 

After  much  trouble,  an  exchange  had  been  agreed 
upon,  and  a  cartel  provided  for ;  and  in  these 
circumstances,  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the 
prisoners  from  defeating  the  object  of  the  protracted 
negotiation,  by  departing  of  their  own  accord. 

Jones  wrote  in  terms  of  authority  to  Mr.  T.  Lee, 
the  deputy  agent,  and  of  earnest  request  to  the 
Intendant  of  the  port  and  the  commissioners,  to 
prevent  this  catastrophe.  For  his  perseverance  in 
procuring  a  guard,  he  received  the  hearty  com- 
mendation of  Franklin,  who,  in  his  letter  of  the  6th 
of  February,  said :  "  Your  letter  was  sent  to  the 
Prince  de  Nassau.  I  am  confident  something  will 
be  done  for  you,  though  I  do  not  yet  know  what. 
I  sympathize  with  you  in  what  I  know  you  must 
suffer,  from  your  present  inactivity ;  but  have 
patience."  But  nothing  was  done ;  and  patience 
was  not  perhaps  the  most  prominent  virtue  in  Jones' 
character. 

On  the  31st  he  wrote  to  Franklin,  desiring,  as  the 
American  frigates  had  sailed  on  the  22d,  that  his 
letter  of  the  15th  demanding  a  court-martial  fcr 
Simpson  might  be  suppressed,  if  it  had  not  been  pre- 
sented to  the  commissioners.  He  adds :  "  It  is 
here  reported  that  the  Jamaica  fleet  of  seventy  sail, 
under  convoy  of  the  Portland  and  four  frigates, 
passed  in  sight  of  the  Brest  fleet,  and  got  clear,  be- 
cause Count  d'Orvilliers  would  not  break  his  line 
to  give  chase.    I  wish  to  disbelieve  this  account; 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  125 

because  I  had  written  to  him  that  such  a  fleet 
was  expected.  I  endeavor  to  console  myself  with 
the  reflection  that  my  own  situation  cannot  well 
be  altered  for  the  worse.  I  must  acknowledge, 
however,  that  I  have  need  of  some  of  your  philos- 
ophy." 

On  the  13th  of  September  he  wrote  to  the  minister 
what,  in  his  epistle  to  Franklin,  he  calls  an  explicit 
letter,  and  which  was  but  a  summary  of  his  past 
disappointments. 

On  the  18th  he  wrote  to  Franklin  that  he  had 
seen  the  Fox,  a  sloop-of-war  mounting  24  guns, 
which  had  been  taken  by  the  Hancock  and  Adams, 
and  that  he  would  accept  of  her,  attended  by  the 
Alert  as  a  tender,  if  nothing  better  should  offer. 
On  the  21st  he  addressed  the  Due  de  Chatres,  ex- 
pressing his  warm  sense  of  the  kindness  shown  to 
him  at  court  by  that  nobleman,  and  repeating  his 
successive  disappointments.  He  concluded  by  say- 
ing :  "  If  the  minister  has  no  farther  occasion  for 
my  services,  I  have  then  only  to  ask  permission  to 
have  the  Alert,  and  to  carry  with  me  to  America 
his  good  opinion,  before  the  winter.  As  in  my 
present  mysterious  situation  here,  I  am  considered 
an  officer  in  disgrace,  I  am  persuaded  I  need  make 
no  further  apology  to  a  brave  officer,  and  a  noble- 
minded  prince,  for  the  liberty  I  take." 

He  received  at  this  period  encouraging  letters 
from  his  friend  Dr.  "Bancroft,  at  Paris.  "  This  very 
day"  (September  23d),  he  said,  "  M.  Chaumont  has 
gone  to  Yersailles,  to  press  M.  de  Sartine  to  give 


Ue  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

you  the  Fox  frigate.  If  this  should  be  denied,  we 
are  all  determined  to  let  the  great  man  know  in 
strong  terms  our  opinions  of  his  faithless  and  dis- 
honorable proceedings." 

On  the  9th  of  October  Jones  wrote  in  terms  of 
strong  expostulation  to  the  Due  de  Rochefoucault, 
in  which  he  said : 

"  The  minister,  to  my  infinite  mortification,  after 
possessing  himself  of  my  schemes  and  ideas,  has 
treated  me  like  a  child  five  times  successively,  lead- 
ing me  on  from  great  to  little,  and  from  little  to 
less." 

At  length  Jones  determined,  as  a  last  resort,  to 
address  the  king  in  person.  The  following  were 
the  terms  in  which  he  wrote : 

"  Beest,  October  19^A,  1778. 

"  Sire, — After  my  return  to  Brest  in  the  Ameri- 
can ship-of-war  the  Eanger,  from  the  Irish  Channel, 
his  excellency  Dr.  Franklin  informed  me  by  letter, 
dated  June  the  1st,  that  M.  de  Sartine,  having  a 
high  opinion  of  my  conduct  and  bravery,  had  deter- 
mined, with  your  Majesty's  consent  and  approba- 
tion, to  give  me  the  command  of  the  ship-of-war 
the  Indien,  which  was  built  at  Amsterdam  for 
America,  but  afterwards,  for  political  reasons,  made 
the  property  of  France. 

"  I  was  to  act  with  unlimited  orders,  under  the 
commission  and  flag  of  America ;  and  the  Prince 
de  Nassau  proposed  to  accompany  me  on  the  ocean. 


DMAPPOINTMENT.  127 

"  I  was  deeply  penetrated  with  the  sense  of  the 
honor  done  me  by  this  generous  proposition,  as  well 
as  of  the  favor  your  Majesty  intended  thereby  to 
confer  on  America.  And  I  accepted  the  offer  Avith 
the  greater  pleasure,  as  the  Congress  had  sent  me 
to  Europe  in  the  Ranger,  to  command  the  Indien 
before  the  ownership  of  that  vessel  was  changed. 

"  The  minister  desired  to  see  me  at  Versailles  to 
settle  future  plans  of  operation,  and  I  attended  him 
for  that  purpose.  I  was  told  that  the  Indien  was 
at  the  Texel,  completely  armed  and  fitted  for  sea  ; 
but  the  Prince  de  Nassau  was  sent  express  to  Hol- 
land, and  returned  with  a  very  different  account. 
The  ship  was  at  Amsterdam,  and  could  not  be  got 
afloat  or  armed  before  the  September  equinox. 
The  American  plenipotentaries  proposed  that  I 
should  return  to  America  ;  and  as  I  have  repeatedly 
been  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of  an  Ameri- 
can squadron  to  execute  secret  enterprises,  it  w^as 
not  doubted  but  that  Congress  would  again  show 
me  a  preference.  M.  de  Sartine,  how*ever,  thought 
proper  to  prevent  ray  departure,  by  writing  to  the 
plenipotentiaries  (without  my  knowledge),  request- 
ing that  I  might  be  permitted  to  remain  in  Europe, 
and  that  the  Ranger  might  be  sent  back  to  America 
under  another  commander,  he  having  special  services 
which  he  wished  me  to  execute.  This  request  they 
readily  granted,  and  I  was  flattered  by  the  prospect 
of  being  enabled  to  testify,  by  my  services,  my  grati- 
tude to  your  Majesty,  as  the  first  prince  who  has  so 
generously  acknowledged  our  independence, 


128  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

"  There  was  an  interval  of  more  than  three 
months  before  the  Indien  could  be  gotten  afloat. 
To  employ  that  period  usefully,  when  your  Maj- 
esty's fleet  was  ordered  to  sail  from  Brest,  I  pro- 
posed to  the  minister  to  embark  in  it  as  a  volunteer, 
in  pursuit  of  marine  knowledge.  He  objected  to 
this,  and  at  the  same  time  approved  of  a  variety  of 
hints  for  private  enterprises,  which  I  had  drawn  up 
for  his  consideration.  Two  gentlemen  were  ap- 
pointed to  settle  with  me  the  plans  that  were  to 
be  adopted,  who  gave  me  the  assurance  that  three 
of  the  best  frigates  in  France,  with  two  tenders, 
and  a  number  of  troops,  should  be  immediately 
put  under  my  command,  to  pursue  such  of  my  own 
projects  as  I  thought  proper  ;  but  this  fell  to  noth- 
ing, when  I  believed  that  your  Majesty's  signa- 
ture only  was  wanting. 

"Another  armament,  composed  of  cutters  and 
small  vessels,  at  L'Orient,  was  proposed  to  be  put 
under  my  command,  to  alarm  the  coasts  of  England 
and  check  the  Jersey  privateers ;  but,  happily  for 
me,  this  also  failed,  and  I  was  saved  from  ruin  and 
dishonor,  as  I  now  find  that  all  the  vessels  sailed 
slow,  and  their  united  force  is  very  insignificant. 
The  minister  then  thought  fit  that  I  should  return 
to  Brest  to  command  the  Lively,  and  join  some 
frigates  on  an  expedition  from  St.  Malo  to  the 
North  Sea.  I  returned  in  haste  for  that  purpose, 
and  found  that  the  Lively  had  been  bestowed  at 
Brest  before  the  minister  had  mentioned  that  ship 
to  me  at  Yersailles.     This  was,  however,  another 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  X29 

fortunate  disappointment,  as  the  Lively  proves^ 
both  in  sailing  and  equipment,  much  inferior  to  the 
Eanger ;  but  more  especially,  if  it  be  true,  as  I  have 
since  understood,  that  the  minister  intended  to  give 
the  chief  command  of  the  expedition  to  a  lieu- 
tenant, which  would  have  occasioned  a  very  dis- 
agreeable misunderstanding;  for,  as  an  officer  of 
the  first  rank  in  the  American  marine,  who  has 
ever  been  honored  with  the  favor  and  friendship  of 
Congress,  I  can  receive  orders  from  no  inferior 
officer  whatever.  My  plan  was  the  destruction  of 
the  English  Baltic  fleet,  of  great  consequence  to 
the  enemy's  marine,  and  then  only  protected  by  a 
single  frigate '  I  would  have  held  myself  respon- 
sible for  its  success,  had  I  commanded  the  expedi- 
tion. 

"  M.  de  Sartine  afterwards  sent  orders  to  Count 
d'Orvilliers  to  receive  me  on  board  the  fleet,  agree- 
ably to  my  former  proposal ;  but  the  order  did  not 
arrive  until  after  the  departure  of  the  fleet  the  last 
time  from  Brest,  nor  was  I  made  acquainted  with 
the  circumstances  before  the  fleet  returned  here. 

"Then  have  I  been  chained  down  to  shameful 
inactivity  for  nearly  five  months.  I  have  lost  the 
best  season  of  the  year,  and  such  opportunities  of 
serving  my  country  and  acquiring  honor,  as  I  can- 
not again  expect  this  war ;  and  to  my  infinite  mor- 
tification, having  no  command,  I  am  considered 
everywhere  an  officer  cast  off  and  in  disgrace  for 
secret  reasons. 

"  I  have  written  respectful  letters  to  the  minister 
9  ' 


130  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

none  of  which  he  has  condescended  to  answer ;  I 
have  written  to  the  Prince  de  Nassau  with  as  little 
effect ;  and  I  do  not  understand  that  any  apology 
has  been  made  to  the  great  and  venerable  Dr. 
Franklin,  whom  the  minister  has  made  the  instru- 
ment of  bringing  me  into  such  unmerited  trouble. 

"  Having  written  to  Congress  to  reserve  no  com- 
mand for  me  in  America,  my  sensibility  is  the  more 
affected  by  this  unworthy  situation  in  the  sight 
of  your  Majesty's  fleet.  I,  however,  make  no  remark 
on  the  treatment  I  have  received. 

"Although  I  wish  not  to  become  my  own  panegy- 
rist, I  must  beg  your  Majesty's  permission  to  ob- 
serve that  I  am  not  an  adventurer  in  search  of 
fortune,  of  which,  thank  God,  I  have  a  sufficiency. 

"  When  the  American  banner  was  first  displayed, 
I  drew  my  sword  in  support  of  the  violated  dignity 
and  rights  of  human  nature  ;  and  both  honor  and 
duty  prompt  me  steadfastly  to  continue  the  right- 
eous pursuit,  and  to  sacrifice  to  it,  not  only  my 
private  enjoyments,  but  even  life,  if  necessary.  I 
must  acknowledge  that  the  generous  praise  which  I 
have  received  from  Congress  and  others  exceeds 
the  merit  of  my  past  services ;  therefore  I  the  more 
ardently  wish  for  future  opportunities  of  testifying 
my  gratitude  by  my  activity. 

"As  your  Majesty,  by  espousing  the  cause  of 
America,  hath  become  the  protector  of  the  rights 
of  human  nature,  I  am  persuaded  that  you  will  not 
disregard  my  situation,  nor  suffer  me  to  remain 
any  longer  in  this  insupportable  disgrace. 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  13j 

"  I  am,  with  perfect  gratitude  and  profound  re- 
spect, Sire,  your  Majesty's  very  obliged,  very  obedi- 
ent, and  very  humble  servant, 

"  J.  Paul  Jones." 

In  a  letter  of  the  same  date,  Jones  solicited  the 
Duchess  of  Chatres  to  present  the  foregoing  rep- 
resentation to  his  majesty.  He  also  wrote  to 
Franklin,  enclosing  it  for  his  inspection,  a  wise  pre- 
caution which  he  adopted  in  all  cases  of  a  similar 
nature.  One  of  the  principal  sources  of  his  vexa- 
tion was  the  supposition  which  he  believed  to  be 
current,  that  he  had  incurred  the  displeasure  of  his 
venerated  "guide,  philosopher,  and  friend,"  now 
the  minister  plenipotentiary  at  the  court  of  Yer- 
sailles.  This  rumor  he  often  mentions  as  the  climax 
of  his  embarrassments.  There  is  no  reason  to  sup- 
pose that  the  letter  to  the  king  was  ever  delivered. 


132  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTEE  Yin. 

LE    BONHOMME  BICHARD. 

At  this  time,  also,  several  offers  were  made  to 
Jones  to  take  command  of  privateering  expeditions. 
Among  others,  M.  Montieu  of  IN'antes,  who  had  pur- 
chased a  new  ship  on  which  Jones  had  had  his  eye, 
offered  him  the  command  of  an  armament  for  such 
purposes.  In  replying  through  his  friend,  Mr. 
Williams,  Jones  says  :  "  Were  I  in  pursuit  of  prof- 
it, I  should  accept  the  offer  without  hesitation. 
But  I  am  under  such  obligations  to  Congress  that  I 
cannot  think  myself  my  own  master  ;  and  as  servant 
of  the  imperial  republic  of  America,  honored  with 
the  public  approbation  of  my  past  services,  serve 
either  myself  or  even  my  best  friends  in  any  private 
line  whatsoever,  unless  where  the  honor  and  in- 
terest of  America  is  the  premier  object." 

On  the  30th  of  November,  he  wrote  to  M.  Chau- 
mont  that,  by  waiting  until  that  time  for  orders  or 
powers,  he  had  lost  the  opportunity  of  purchasing 
a  suitable  ship,  and  was  in  great  danger  of  losing 
a  number  of  American  seamem  ;  and  that  he  was 
about  to  proceed  to  L'Orient  on  his  own  responsi- 
bility, unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  next  post. 
"  If  we  can  do  no  better,  I  hope  the  Duras  will 
answer."    "I   repeat   to  you    that,  if  the  Alert 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  I33 

were  now  at  my  disposal,  I  could  engage  a  number 
of  American  seamen,  from  a  privateer  that  still  re- 
mains here."  "  My  best  respects  and  most  grateful 
thanks  await  the  minister,  for  the  very  honorable 
things  which  he  said  of  me  to  the  Due  de  la  Koche- 
foucault.  It  shall  be  my  ambition,  when  he  gives 
me  opportunities,  to  merit  his  favor  and  affection." 

From  L' Orient  he  wrote  to  the  commissioners 
on  December  9th,  enclosing  the  memorial  of  the 
pi'isoners  confined  there  on  board  the  Patience. 
They  Avere  originally  two  hundred  in  number,  but 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one  alone  remained,  and  it 
was  to  be  inferred  that  the  others  had  been  suffered 
to  escape.  Their  condition  was  a  melancholy  one. 
The  prisoners  had  full  confidence  in  Father  John, 
the  chaplain  of  the  Due  d'Orvilliers,  and  begged 
for  an  answer  through  him.  The  memorial,  signed 
by  the  officers  of  the  Drake,  represented,  no  doubt, 
too  trul}^  the  miseries  they  had  endured  in  their 
close  confinement,  at  a  distance  from  the  shore,  for 
seven  months.  In  January  following,  M.  Sartine 
granted  an  order  for  the  release  of  such  Americans 
as  would  enroll  under  Jones. 

For  nearly  two  months,  a  singular  gap  in  his  in- 
defatigable correspondence,  we  find  no  letters  to  or 
from  Jones  preserved  among  the  originals  or  copies 
of  his  papers.  His  Journal  for  the  king  supplies  the 
vacuum.  "  ]S"one  of  the  ships  at  L'Orient  appeared 
very  suitable  for  the  purpose,  except  one,  the  *  Mar- 
shal de  Broglio,'  a  fine  ship,  bought  soon  afterwards 
by  the  king,  and  fitted  for  war  with  sixty-four  guns." 


134  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

As  nothing  was  done,  Captain  Jones  determined  to  go 
himself  to  court,  to  know  why  he  was  detained  idle 
in  Europe.  The  minister  pressed  him  to  accept 
the  command  of  the  Marshal  de  Broglio  ;  but  Cap- 
tain Jones  was  obliged  to  decline  it,  as  he  saw  no 
means  to  procure  a  crew  of  Americans  sufficient  for 
that  ship. 

The  king  then  bought  the  Due  de  Duras,  a  much 
smaller  ship,  of  fourteen  years  old.  This  ship  was 
given  to  Captain  Jones  ;  and  at  his  request  called 
Le  Bonhomme  Richard,  in  compliment  to  a  saying 
of  Poor  Eichard  :  "  if  you  would  have  your  busi- 
ness done,  come  yourself;  if  not,  send." 

The  official  intimation  of  this  appointment  was 
not  given  by  M.  de  Sartine  until  the  4:th  of  February, 
who  informed  Jones  that  he  was  about  to  give 
orders  for  completely  fitting  and  victualing  the 
Duras ;  that  Jones  was  to  hoist  the  flag  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  commission  he  had  received 
from  Congress  when  he  left  America,  and  to  use 
his  powers  to  form  a  ship's  company  of  American 
volunteers.  But  he  also  informed  him  that  it  was 
the  king's  pleasure  that  he  should  raise  volunteers 
to  make  up  the  necessary  number  of  his  crew. 

As  to  his  operation  at  sea,  the  minister  in  fact 
gave  him  carte  hlanche^  asking  only  for  an  account 
of  his  proceedings,  whenever  he  should  enter  a  port 
within  the  king's  dominions.  He  assented  to  the 
ship's  changing  her  name,  in  compliance  with  the 
request  of  Jones.  Jones  made  his  acknowledgments 
warmly,  and  in  his   best  sstyle,  for  the  first  actual 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  I35 

favor  he  had  received;  and   a   prospect  of  action 
opened  before  him. 

"  M.  Garnier  was  appointed  by  the  court  to  ar- 
range a  plan  for  the  armament.  Four  or  fiv^e  sail 
was  to  be  added  to  the  Bonhomme  Eichard,  two  of 
them  to  be  fire-ships.  Five  hundred  chosen  troops 
were  to  embark,  from  one  of  the  Irish  regiments, 
under  the  command  of  the  Chevalier  de  Fitz  Mau- 
rice, who  was  to  be  entirely  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Jones.  A  plan  was  laid  between  M.  Gar- 
nier and  Captain  Jones  which  promised  perfect  suc- 
cess ;  and  had  it  succeeded,  would  have  astonished 
the  world."* 

Jones  proceeded  forthwith  to  Nantes  to  engage 
seamen,  several  of  whom  he  enlisted  at  that  place ; 
the  Americans,  as  he  says,  being  generally  pleased 
with  the  character  of  the  "  Poor  Eichard."  The 
ship  was  calculated  to  mount  only  one  battery  of 
eighteen-pounders,  and  he  found  some  diflBculty  in 
procuring  suitable  ordnance  to  be  cast.  Writing 
to  M.  Garnier  from  Nantes,  he  urged  that,  as  the 
new  American  frigate,  the  Alliance,  which  had  been 
put  under  the  command  of  a  French  ofl5cer,  was 
then  at  Brest,  it  would  be  a  useful  addition  to  the 
force  which  was  to  sail  under  him.  Understanding 
that  Lafayette  had  brought  out  the  credentials  of 
Franklin  as  ambassador,  and  that  the  Alliance 
would  in  consequence  be  under  his  control,  he  sug- 
gested that  an  application  should  be  made  to  this 
effect. 

♦  The  plan  was  to  attack  Liverpool. 


136  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

From  Nantes  he  went  to  L'Orient,  whence  he 
wrote  that  finding  the  necessary  cannon  could  be 
made  at  Bordeaux,  he  should  repair  there  imme- 
diately ;  that  he  had  procured  several  seamen  at 
Brest  and  Nantes,  and  many  valuable  men  for  offi- 
cers ;  that  volunteer  soldiers  enlisted  with  him  daily, 
to  serve  during  the  war,  and  that  he  had  accepted 
the  offer  of  a  captain  in  the  American  army  to  com- 
mand them.  After  passing  several  times  between 
Bordeaux  and  Angouleme,  before  the  contract  for 
casting  the  cannon  was  completed,  he  received  on 
his  return  to  L'Orient,  an  express  summoning  him 
to  court.  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  had  expressed 
a  wish  to  join  with  him  in  an  expedition,  and  com- 
mand a  body  of  select  troops  assigned  to  him  by  the 
king  for  that  purpose.  Franklin,  at  the  request  of 
the  French  government,  made  the  Alliance  a  part 
of  the  force,  which  now  began  to  assume  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  armament  with  which  much  might 
be  effected.  It  was  to  consist  of  the  Bonhomme 
Eichard,  the  Alliance,  Pallas,  Yengeance  brig,  and 
Cerf,  a  remarkably  fine  cutter. 

On  his  return  to  L'Orient,  he  found  that  two- 
thirds  of  the  men  sent  as  American  volunteers  from 
Nantes  were,  as  he  describes  them,  "  unfit  to  bear 
arms,"  a  "  set  of  dirty  beings,"  who  were  to  be  sent 
to  their  homes  at  an  additional  expense.  The  rest 
were  English  prisoners,  whose  names  he  had  blotted 
out  of  the  list  previously,  because,  during  his  absence 
at  Bordeaux,  they  had  enlisted  to  serve  in  a  priva- 
teer.     He  rated  very   soundly     the  officer    (Mr. 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  137 

Thompson),  under  whose  auspices  these  apologies  for 
soldiers  were  forwarded  for  his  use. 

On  the  27th  of  April  Franklin  addressed  to  him 
the  following  letter,  under  the  impression  that  La- 
fayette would  co-operate  with  him.  It  would  be 
improper  to  omit  it  here,  though  it  is  found  in  other 
collections.  Jones  duly  appreciated  the  sound  sense 
of  its  precepts.  With  Lafayette,  as  with  Franklin, 
he  never  would  have  openly  differed.  This  may  be 
safely  affirmed,  though  he  never  w^as  put  to  the  test. 

"  I  have,  at  the  request  of  M.  de  Sartine,  postponed 
the  sending  of  the  Alliance  to  America,  and  have 
ordered  her  to  proceed  immediately  from  Nantes  to 
L'Orient,  where  she  is  to  be  furnished  with  her  com- 
plement of  men,  join  your  little  squadron,  and  act 
under  your  command. 

"The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  will  be  with  you 
soon.  It  has  been  observed  that  joint  expeditions 
of  land  and  sea  forces  often  miscarry  through 
jealousies  and  misunderstandings  between  the  offi- 
cers of  the  different  corps.  This  must  happen  where 
there  are  little  minds,  actuated  more  by  personal 
views  of  profit  or  honor,  to  themselves  than  by  the 
warm  and  sincere  desire  of  good  to  their  country. 
Knowing  you  both,  as  I  do,  and  your  just  manner 
of  thinking  on  these  occasions,  I  am  confident  noth- 
ing of  the  kind  can  happen  between  you,  and  that  it 
is  unnecessary  for  me  to  recommend  to  either  of 
you  that  condescension,  mutual  good  will  and 
harmony  which  contribute  sc  much  to  success  in 


138  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

such  undertakings.  I  look  upon  this  expedition  as 
an  introduction  only  to  greater  trusts  and  more 
extensive  commands,  and  as  a  kind  of  trial  of  both 
your  abilities,  and  of  your  fitness  in  temper  and 
disposition  for  acting  in  concert  with  others.  I 
flatter  myself,  therefore,  that  nothing  will  happen 
that  may  give  impressions  to  the  disadvantage  of 
either  of  you,  when  greater  affairs  shall  come  under 
consideration. 

"  As  this  is  understood  to  be  an  American  expe- 
dition, under  the  Congress  commission  and  colors, 
the  Marquis,  who  is  a  major-general  in  that  service, 
has  of  course  the  step  in  point  of  rank,  and  he  must 
have  the  command  of  the  land  forces,  which  are 
committed  by  the  king  to  his  care ;  but  the  com- 
mand of  the  ships  will  be  entirely  in  you,  in  which 
I  am  persuaded  that  whatever  authority  his  rank 
mio^ht  in  strictness  o^ive  him,  he  will  not  have  the 
least  desire  to  interfere  with  you.  There  is  honor 
enough  to  be  got  for  both  of  you,  if  the  expedition 
is  conducted  with  a  prudent  unanimity.  The  cir- 
cumstance is  indeed  a  little  unusual ;  for  there  is  not 
only  a  junction  of  land  and  sea  forces,  but  there  is 
also  a  junction  of  Frenchmen  and  Americans,  which 
increases  the  difficulty  of  maintaining  a  good  under- 
standing ;  a  cool,  prudent  conduct  in  the  chiefs  is 
therefore  the  more  necessary,  and  I  trust  neither  of 
you  will  in  that  respect  be  deficient.  With  my  best 
wishes  for  your  success,  health,  and  honor,  I  re- 
main, dear  sir,  your  affectionate  and  most  obedient 
servant." 


LB  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  1^9 

On  the  same  day  with  Franklin,  Lafayette 
wrote  to  Jones,  approving  of  his  measures,  and  re- 
gretting that  he  heard  the  cannon  were  promised  to 
other  people.  lie  said  that  he  wished  the  expedi- 
tion to  be  soon  over,  as  his  return  in  the  middle  of 
the  summer  would  be  useful  to  the  common  cause ; 
and  he  hoped  everything  would  be  in  readiness  by 
the  Tth  of  May.  He  did  not  wish,  if  it  could  be 
avoided,  to  put  land  troops  on  board  of  the  Alliance, 
because  disputes  would  occur  between  their  officers 
and  Captain  Landais. 

In  reply  to  Franklin,  Jones  said :  "  The  letter  I 
had  the  honor  to  receive  from  you  to-day,  together 
with  your  liberal  and  noble-minded  instructions, 
would  make  a  coward  brave.  You  have  called  up 
every  sentiment  of  public  virtue  in  my  breast,  and  it 
shall  be  my  pride  and  ambition,  in  the  strict  pursuit 
of  your  instructions,  to  deserve  success. 

And  to  Lafayette,  he  wrote  as  follows :  "  So 
flattering  and  affectionate  a  proof  of  your  esteem 
and  friendship,  has  made  an  impression  on  my  mind 
that  will  attend  me  while  I  live.  This  I  hope  to  prove 
by  more  than  words.  Where  men  of  fine  feelings 
are  concerned  there  is  seldom  misunderstanding ; 
and  I  am  sure  I  should  do  violence  to  my  sensibility, 
if  I  were  capable  of  giving  you  a  moment's  pain  by 
any  part  of  my  conduct.  Therefore,  without  any 
apology,  I  shall  expect  you  to  point  out  my  errors, 
when  we  are  together  alone,  with  perfect  freedom, 
and  I  think  I  dare  promise  you  your  reproof  shall 
not  be  lost." 


140  L^FE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  he  informed  M.  Chaumont, 
that  if  a  battery  of  twenty -eight  good  twelve-pound- 
ers, with  others  of  less  caliber  could  be  procured,  he 
was  willing  to  put  to  sea ;  that  he  had  on  his  muster 
roll  329  officers,  seamen,  and  volunteer  soldiers,  and 
would  not  lie  idle  for  want  of  men.  He  expressed 
his  deep  regret  at  the  political  disappointments  his 
friend  M.  Garnier  had  met  with. 

The  proposed  co-operation  of  Lafayette  with 
Jones  was  soon  abandoned  for  reasons  which  the 
general  history  of  the  times  easily  furnishes.  Spain 
was  preparing  to  act  with  France  against  England, 
and  her  hostile  manifesto  was  delivered  by  her  am- 
bassador a  few  weeks  subsequently.  In  the  attitude 
in  which  Great  Britain  then  stood,  it  was  by  no  means 
chimerical  to  anticipate  important  results  from  the 
combined  operations  of  the  two  fleets.  A  general 
invasion  was  projected  ;  forces  were  ordered  to  be 
raised  in  the  northern  provinces  of  France,  and 
marched  to  the  coast,  and  general  officers  were 
named  to  conduct  the  grand  enterprise.  On  the  22d 
of  May,  Lafayette  wrote  to  inform  Jones  of  the 
change  in  the  purposes  of  the  ministr}^  He  simply 
stated  that  political  reasons  had  occasioned  it,  and 
added,  "  I  am  only  to  tell  you,  my  good  friend,  how 
sorry  I  feel  not  to  be  a  witness  of  your  success, 
abilities,  and  glory."  "  What  will  be  further 
determined  about  your  squadron  is  yet  uncertain, 
and  the  ministers  are  to  consult  with  Dr.  Franklin." 
It  will  be  seen,  that  Jones  wrote  under  a  partial,  if 
not  total  misunderstanding  of  the  causes  which  led 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  141 

to  a  modification  of  the  plan  first  proposed,  in  part  of 
the  following  extract  for  his  journal  for  the  king, 
though  it  was  composed  many  years  afterwards. 

"  M.  le  Kay  de  Chaumont  was  appointed  commis- 
sary of  the  expenses  of  the  squadron,  and  unwisely 
intrusted  with  the  secret  of  the  expedition.  The 
cannon  had  not  arrived  for  the  Bonhomme  Richard, 
and  she  was  in  great  haste  mounted  with  a  battery 
of  indifferent  twelve-pounders.  Six  old-fashioned 
long  eighteen-pounders  Avere  mounted  in  the  gun- 
room ;  and  ports  were  cut  to  fight  them  six  on  one 
side.  Thus,  wath  the  guns  on  the  quarter-deck  and 
forecastle,  the  Bonhomme  Richard  mounted  forty 
guns ;  and  with  the  Alliance  of  thirty-six  the  Pallas 
of  thirty-two,  the  Cerf  of  eighteen,  and  the  Venge- 
ance of  twelve,  composed  the  little  squadron.  A 
crew  was  hastily  procured  for  the  Bonhomme 
Richard,  from  among  the  English  prisoners,  and  by 
enlisting  raw  French  peasants  as  volunteers.  Cap- 
tain Jones  had  not  more  than  thirty  Americans 
among  the  crew. 

In  the  Alliance,  there  had  been  a  mutiny  on  the 
passage  from  America,  and  the  captain  and  officers 
were  ready  to  cut  one  another's  throats.  The  first 
and  second  lieutenants  deserted.  The  Pallas,  a 
merchant  ship,  had  been  built  for  the  king,  and 
hastily  fitted  at  Nantes.  The  Vengeance  was  bought 
by  the  commissary,  and  fitted  in  the  same  manner. 
The  commissary  took  upon  himself  the  whole  direc- 
tion at  L'Orient,  and  went  far  beyond  the  powers  of 
a  commissary  ;  but  the  secret  was  too  big  for  him 


142  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

to  keep.  All  Paris  rang  with  the  expedition  from 
L'Orient;  and  government  was  obliged  to  drop  the 
plan,  when  the  squadron  lay  ready  for  sea,  and  the 
troops  ready  to  embark." 

On  the  10th  and  14:th  of  June,  M.  Chaumont  sent 
to  Jones  his  official  hints  and  suggestions,  as  to  the 
government  of  the  fleet,  and  the  disposition  of  the 
prizes.  He  observed,  that  as  the  situation  of  the 
officers,  who  had  accepted  commissions  from  Con- 
gress to  join  the  armament  of  the  Bonhomme 
Richard,  might  be  in  contradiction  with  the  in- 
terest of  their  own  ships,  he  was  induced  to  request 
Jones  to  enter  into  an  engagement  with  him, 
not  to  require  from  those  vessels  any  services,  not 
conformable  to  the  orders  such  officers  might  have; 
and  not  to  make  any  change  in  the  formation  of 
their  crews.  "  He  also  requested  that  all  prizes  might 
be  addressed  to  such  consignees  as  he  should  point 
out,  for  the  preservation  of  the  interests  of  all  con- 
cerned. 

By  the  orders  of  the  minister,  Jones  was  at  this 
time  employed  in  giving  convoy  to  a  fleet  bound  for 
Bordeaux,  and  other  ports  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay, 
containing  troops,  stores,  and  other  merchandise. 
He  was  also  directed,  on  his  return,  to  drive  the 
enemy's  cruisers  out  of  the  bay.  This  service,  he 
says  in  his  Journal,  he  performed.  On  the  night  of 
June  20th,  while  the  fleet  lay  to  off  Rochefort, 
"the  Bonhomme  Richard  and  Alliance  got  foul 
of  each  other  ;  which  carried  away  the  B.  H.  R.'s 
head  and  bowsprit  and  the  Alliance's  mizzen-raast.'* 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  143 

This  accident  was  allowed  on  all  hands  to  have  been 
owing  to  the  clumsy  management  of  the  Alliance, 
but  it  was  further  supposed  that  the  collision  w^as 
not  altogether  unintentional  on  the  part  of  Landais. 
Among  the  articles  subsequently  attested  by  the 
officers  of  the  squadron,  the  first  was,  "  that  the 
captain  of  the  Alliance  did  not  take  the  steps  in  his 
power  to  prevent  his  ship  from  getting  foul  of  the 
Bonhomme  Kichard,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay ;  for, 
instead  of  putting  his  hehn  a-weather  and  bearing 
up  to  make  way  for  his  commanding  officer  (which 
was  his  duty),  he  left  the  deck  to  load  his  pistols." 
The  offense,  however,  was  visited  upon  the  lieutenant 
of  the  Bonhomme  Kichard,  who  had  the  watch, 
and  was  broken  by  a  court-martial  held  shortly 
afterwards.  Jones  observes  that  there  were  faults 
on  both  sides. 

On  the  21st  of  June  Jones  sent  the  Cerf  to  recon- 
noiter  two  sail.  She  fell  in  with  a  sloop  of  fourteen 
guns  ;  and  after  a  warm  engagement  was  obliged  to 
abandon  her  prize,  on  the  approach  of  a  superior 
force,  and  went  to  L'Orient  to  refit.  The  next  day 
three  ships-of-war  were  discerned  to  windward. 
They  bore  down  in  order ;  but,  finding  the  squadron 
prepared  to  receive  them,  escaped  by  superior  sail- 
ing. A  few  days  after,  the  Alliance  and  Pallas 
separated  from  the  two  other  ships  in  a  fog.  On 
coming  in  sight  of  the  road  of  Groix,  the  wind  be- 
ing contrary,  Jones  gave  the  Vengeance  leave  to 
make  the  best  of  her  way  in,  and  found  himself,  at 
the  approach  of  night,  near  two  large  frigates.     He 


144  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

steered  for  them  for  half  an  hour,  to  prepare  for 
action,  and  then  tacked  to  engage.  When  thej  saw 
this,  the  pursuers  ran  away  ;  and,  as  Jones  says, 
"  to  his  great  mortification  out  sailed  the  Bon- 
homme  Kichard  and  got  clear." 

Unapprised  of  the  necessarj^  delay  which  the 
repairs  of  the  squadron  would  create,  Franklin  ad- 
dressed to  Jones,  the  same  day  on  which  he  arrived 
at  the  Isle  de  Groix,  the  following  instructions  : 

"Being  arrived  at  Groix,  you  are  to  make  the 
best  of  your  way  with  the  vessels  under  jour  com- 
mand to  the  West  of  Ireland,  and  establish  your 
cruise  on  the  Orcades,  the  Cape  of  Derneus,  and  the 
Dogger  Bank,  in  order  to  take  the  enemy's  property 
in  those  seas. 

"  The  prizes  you  may  make  send  to  Dunkirk, 
Ostend,  or  Bergen,  in  Norway,  according  to  your 
proximity  to  either  of  those  ports.  Address  them  to 
the  persons  M.  de  Chaumont  shall  indicate  to  you. 

"  About  the  15th  of  August,  when  you  vriil  have 
sufficiently  cruised  in  these  seas,  you  are  to  make 
route  for  the  Texel,  where  you  will  meet  ray  further 
orders. 

"  If  by  any  personal  accident  you  should  be 
rendered  unable  to  execute  these  instructions,  the 
officer  of  your  squadron  next  in  rank  is  to  endeavor 
to  put  them  in  execution." 

In  the  letter  from  Jones,  giving  an  account  of  his 
proceedings,  which  crossed  these  instructions  on  the 


LE  BOXHOMME  RICHARD.  I45 

road,  he  said  :  "  I  have  traversed  the  Gulf  de  Gas- 
cogne,  over  and  over,  both  within  and  without 
soundings,  from  half  a  degree  to  the  southward  of 
the  island  of  Bordeaux,  to  the  Ras  passage,  in  sight 
of  Brest.  I  have  fallen  in  with  and  chased  various 
other  ships  and  vessels,  which  I  believe  were  enemies, 
but  all  such  as  I  have  been  able  to  overtake  proved 
either  Dutch,  Spanish,  or  other  neutral  property." 
"  If  the  court  is  yet  disposed  to  give  me  the  ship 
which  they  at  first  offered,  I  think  it  possible  in  the 
present  situation  of  my  affairs  to  make  a  useful  and 
honorable  cruise  that  way,  with  the  force  now  under 
my  command,  and  afterwards  to  bring  that  ship 
out  with  the  crew  I  now  have." 

Franklin  stated  in  reply :  "  I  have  no  other  orders 
to  give  ;  for,  as  the  court  is  at  the  chief  expense,  I 
think  they  have  the  best  right  to  direct.  I  observe 
what  you  write  about  a  change  of  the  destination ; 
but  when  a  thing  has  been  once  considered  and  de- 
termined on  in  council,  they  do  not  care  to  resume 
the  consideration  of  it,  having  much  business  on 
hand,  and  there  is  not  now  time  to  obtain  a  recon- 
sideration." lie  threw  out,  however,  the  consoling 
intimation,  that  it  had  been  hinted  to  him  that 
"  the  intention  of  ordering  the  cruise  to  finish  at 
the  Texel,  was  with  a  view  of  getting  out  the  Indien  ; 
but  this  should  be  kept  a  secret."  He  confirmed 
absolutely  the  instructions  of  M.  Chaumont ;  and 
added  the  following  significant  postscript : 

"  If  it  should  fall  in  your  way,  remember  that  the 

Hudson's  Bay  ships  are  very  valuable," 
10 


146  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONEa 

On  the  2d  of  July,  the  Alliance  and  Pallas 
arrived  with  an  Irish  brig  laden  with  wine,  etc., 
which  they  had  captured,  and  the  squadron  went  to 
L'Orient  for  repairs.  The  Pallas,  Cerf,  and  Venge- 
ance were  ordered  on  a  short  cruise,  from  which  thev 
returned  without  eJffecting  anything  of  consequence. 

The  Bonhomme  Pichard,  on  inspection,  at 
L'Orient,  was  found  too  old  for  necessary  alterations, 
and  fit  only  for  extemporary  service.  The  bowsprit 
was  found  to  be  sprung,  which  required  attention. 
The  Alliance  was  also  hove  down  and  careened. 
"  ISTotwithstanding,"  Jones  wrote  to  Franklin, 
"  the  little  squadron  will  not  be  detained,  so  as  to  in- 
terfere with  the  execution  of  your  orders.  When  we 
meet  with  the  enem^^'s  property  of  no  great  value, 
or  that  cannot  be  conveniently  sent  into  ports,  would 
it  not  be  proper  to  '  sink,  burn,  or  otherwise  destroy ' 
such  property  \  I  have  had  such  charge  in  my  in- 
structions from  Congress ;  and  it  is  therefore  that 
I  mention  it  noAV.  I  would  also  beg  leave  to  ask, 
whether  I  may  or  may  not  attempt  to  avail  myself 
of  every  opportunity  that  may  seem  to  present  itself 
to  distress  the  enemy."  In  a  marginal  note,  he  says, 
"  I  have  ever  made  this  my  study." 

In  pursuance  of  the  desire  of  M.  de  Sartine,  M. 
Chamillard  de  Yarville  was  admitted  to  the  com- 
mand en  second  of  the  Bonhomme  Pichard.  On 
the  19th  Franklin  lengthened  the  cruise,  at  De 
Sartine's  request,  to  the  end  of  September,  to  give 
a  longer  time  for  finishing  it  at  the  Orcades.  On 
the  26th  Jones  wrote  Franklin  that  he  had  advices 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  I47 

that  the  Jamaica  fleet  would  sail  liomewards,  escorted 
by  a  fifty -gun  ship  and  two  frigates,  and  that  he 
should  certainly  engage  them  if  he  fell  in  with  them, 
though  his  ships  would  probably  be  too  much  cut 
up  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  convoy.  He  urged 
the  convenience  of  attaching  the  Monsieur  frigate, 
a  privateer,  to  his  command,  which  had  been  spoken 
of  when  he  was  at  Paris,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  superiority  over  the  convoy. 

On  the  28th  he  wrote,  in  relation  to  the  proceed- 
ings of  a  court-martial  which  had  been  held  for  the 
trial  of  several  alleged  offenses,  on  board  the  Bon- 
homrae  Kichard.  Notwithstanding  the  "  martial 
spirit "  shown  by  his  seamen  in  the  affair  with  the 
two  frigates,  he  observed  a  mutinous  disposition 
among  the  English,  **  who  remained  on  board  from 
necessity,  and  not  from  choice,'^  after  he  had  been 
forbidden  to  enlist  the  French  seamen.  He  had 
learned  from  Franklin  that  accounts  of  these  in- 
surrectionary symptoms  had  reached  the  ears  of 
M.  de  Sartine,  with  whom  he  was  not  in  immediate 
correspondence;  and  was  much  annoyed  by  it. 
While  the  proceedings  before  the  court-martial  were 
pending,  the  suggestions  made  by  Jones  to  Franklin 
are  creditable  to  his  good  sense.  Two  quarter- 
masters were  charged  with  conspiracy  at  sea,  against 
whom  the  evidence  was  strong.  "  Should  any 
person,"  he  says,  "  be  condemned  to  death,  I  will 
suspend  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  until  I  have 
your  orders  on  the  subject.  In  the  meantime,  as  I 
wish  to  give  no  offense  in  a  foreign  port,  I  submit 


148  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

to  you,  whether  it  would  not  be  better  to  make  this 
proceeding  known  at  Versailles.  Should  I  depart 
from  thence,  before  I  receive  your  orders,  if  there 
be  any  sentence  of  death,  I  will  leave  the  condemned 
in  prison  on  shore ;  and  you  may  be  assured  that 
the  court  will  proceed  with  due  circumspection  and 
lenity,  as  far  as  may  be  consonant  with  the  rules  of 
the  service."  The  sentences  of  this  court,  however, 
except  in  the  case  of  the  lieutenant  of  the  Bon- 
homme  Richard,  who  was  cashiered,  as  before  men- 
tioned, amounted  only  to  whipping. 

Any  further  delay  than  that  which  repairs  oc- 
casioned would  have  been  particularly  vexatious  at 
this  time,  as  in  compliance  with  the  minister's  desire, 
Franklin  would  have  given  orders  to  the  Alliance  to 
sail  on  a  separate  cruise.  One  hundred  and  nine- 
teen American  prisoners  had  arrived  in  a  cartel  at 
Nantes,  and  M.  Chaumont  paid  a  visit  to  the  sea- 
board to  obtain  a  better  crew  for  the  Bonhomme 
Bichard.  On  the  eve  of  his  departure,  he  informed 
Franklin  in  a  note  that  it  would  probably  be  neces- 
sary to  retard  the  sailing  of  that  vessel,  until  she 
was  more  properly  manned  ;  in  which  case  M.  de 
Sartine  desired  that  Captain  Landais  might  have 
orders  to  put  to  sea  forthwith  from  L'Orient  to 
cruise  on  the  north  of  Scotland  until  the  end  of 
September. 

The  strange  commander  of  the  Alliance,  if  he  did 
not  instigate  this  order,  would  no  doubt  have  been 
well  pleased  with  its  going  into  effect.  What  figure 
he  would  have  cut  upon  the  coasts,  on  his   own 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  149 

account,  cannot  be  conjectured.  But  the  visit  of 
M.Chaumont  was  in  every  respect  unacceptable  to 
Jones,  who  told  the  minister,  "  this  second  journey 
of  M.  Chaumont  was  altogether  unnecessary ;  as  I 
had,  before  his  arrival  at  L'Orient,  sent  officers  to 
Kantes  to  enlist  Americans,  and  had  also  enlisted 
as  many  of  the  strangers  as  were  w^illing  to  embark 
at  L'Orient." 

The  contents  and  date  of  a  letter  addressed  to 
Jones'  eldest  sister  about  this  time,  Avhich  has  been 
accidentally  preserved,  make  us  acquainted  with  a 
pleasing  trait  in  his  character,  which  should  not  be 
overlooked,  though  it  here  interrupts  the  current  of 
the  narrative.  The  letter  is  dated  Cork,  June  Ist, 
and  incloses  a  bill  of  exchange  drawn  for  thirty 
pounds  sterling  on  a  person  in  Carlisle,  in  favor  of 
Captain  Pliance,  a  friend  of  Jones'  relations,  for 
whose  use  he  had  made  the  remittance.  The  drawee 
could  not  be  heard  of,  and,  with  similar  remittances 
which  Jones  had  made  from  time  to  time,  this  failed 
in  coming  to  the  hands  of  those  for  whom  it  was 
destined.  But  the  circumstances,  with  many  others, 
some  of  which  will  appear,  proves  that  he  never 
forgot  or  ceased  to  cherish  those  Avho  were  nearest 
to  him  in  blood.  In  reply  to  a  letter  from  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Taylor,  at  a  subsequent  period,  informing  him 
of  the  death  of  his  mother  and  eldest  sister,  he  says, 
"  The  loss  of  those  dear  friends  is  the  more  affecting: 
to  me,  as  they  never  received  the  remittances  I 
intended  for  them,  and  as  they  had  not,  perhaps,  a 
truQ  idea  of  my  affection," 


l^Q  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

The  Monsieur,  described  as  a  fine  privateer  of 
forty  guns,  and  the  Grand  ville  of  fourteen,  joined 
the  squadron.  Their  captains,  Jones  says,  "  requested 
him  to  permit  them  to  follow  his  motions,  and  share 
his  fortune  ;  and  offered  to  come  under  any  obliga- 
tion not  to  leave  the  squadron.  But  the  commissary 
thought  fit  to  leave  the  privateers  to  act  on  the  great 
scale  of  honor,  and  would  hear  of  no  obligation  being 
taken  from  them." 

M.  Chaumont  was  either  instructed,  or  deemed  it 
necessary,  to  require  the  commanders  of  the  squadron 
to  sign  a  paper,  called  a  concord.  Jones  subsequently 
complained  that  it  was  imposed  upon  him  at  the 
moment  of  departure,  and  said  he  would  have  re- 
jected it  with  indignation  if  offered  at  the  beginning. 
It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that,  having  read  it, 
he  did  sign  it ;  and  that,  in  his  earlier  letters  to  M. 
Chaumont  after  sailing,  he  made  no  allusion  to  it. 

By  this  instrument,  the  five  captains,  Jones, 
Landais,  Cottineau,  Yarage,  and  Eicot,  "  composing 
a  squadron  to  be  commanded  by  the  oldest  officer  of 
the  highest  grade,  and  so  on  in  succession,  in  case  of 
death  or  retreat,"  agreed  that,  unless  separated 
from  the  squadron  by  order  of  the  minister,  each 
should  act  only  by  virtue  of  the  brevet  which  they 
should  have  obtained  from  the  United  States,  whose 
flag  was  to  be  displayed.  The  division  of  prizes  to 
the  officers  and  crews  was  to  be  made  according  to 
the  American  laws  ;  but  the  proportion  of  each  vessel 
was  to  be  regulated  by  the  minister  of  the  French 
marine  and  the  American  minister.    A  copy  of  the 


LE  BONHOMIVrE  RICHARD.  I5I 

American  laws  was  to  be  annexed  to  the  agreement, 
after  having  been  certified  by  Jones.  Where  their 
provisions  were  inadequate,  the  matter  was  to  be  de- 
termined as  above  mentioned.  The  orders  of  the 
French  minister  of  marine  and  of  the  American 
plenipotentiary  were  to  be  executed.  The  prizes 
were  to  be  remitted  to  M.  le  Eay  de  Chaumont, 
who  had  furnished  the  expenses  of  the  armament  of 
the  squadron,  and  who  was  to  be  requested  not  to 
give  up  the  part  of  the  prizes  accruing  to  all  the 
crews,  and  to  any  individual  of  the  squadron,  but  to 
their  order,  and  to  be  answerable  in  his  own  name. 
Armed  vessels,  whether  French  or  American,  might 
be  associated  with  the  squadron  by  common  consent, 
and  have  such  proportion  of  the  prizes  as  the  laws 
of  their  respective  countries  allowed.  In  case  of  the 
death  of  a  commander,  he  was  to  be  replaced  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  the  tableau ;  with  liberty  to  the 
person  entitled,  however,  to  remain  in  his  own  vessel 
and  yield  the  vacancy  to  the  next.  In  case  of  any 
accident  happening  to  M.  Yarage,  of  the  Cerf,  he 
was  to  be  replaced  by  his  second  in  command,  etc. 

On  the  face  of  these  articles  there  appears  nothing 
that  does  not  seem  plain  and  equitable. 

On  the  10th  of  August  Jones  issued  his  circular  to 
the  captains,  of  the  squadron,  directing  them  never  to 
chase  so  as  to  lose  company,  and,  if  separated  from 
the  Bonhomme  Eichard,  to  open  their  letters  of 
rendezvous. 

At  daybreak  on  the  14th  of  August  the  squadron 
sailed  from  Groix,  consisting  of  seven  sail,  including 


152  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  two  privateers.  "  Unfortunately,"  says  Jones, 
"  there  was  neither  secrecy  nor  subordination. 
Captain  Jones  saw  his  danger  ;  but,  his  reputation 
being  at  stake,  he  put  all  to  the  hazard."  On  the 
18th  they  "  retook  a  large  ship  belonging  to  Holland, 
laden  chiefly  with  brandy  and  wine,  that  had  been 
destined  from  Barcelona  for  Dunkirk  and  taken  eight 
days  before  by  an  English  privateer.  The  captain 
of  the  Monsieur,  however,  took  out  of  this  prize  such 
articles  as  he  pleased  in  the  night,  and  the  next  da}^ 
being  astern  of  the  squadron  and  to  windward,  he 
actually  wrote  orders  in  his  proper  name,  and  sent 
away  the  prize  under  one  of  his  own  officers."  The 
commodore,  however,  not  understanding  the  pro- 
priety of  this  disposition  of  die  Yerwagting  (the 
name  of  the  Dutch  ship),  sent  her  to  L'Orient,  with 
a  letter  to  M.  Chaumont ;  and  the  Monsieur,  after 
detaining  the  squadron  for  twenty-four  hours,  by 
lagging  behind,  separated  from  it  altogether.  On 
the  21st  a  brigantine  was  taken,  loaded  with  provi- 
sions, from  Limerick  to  London,  and  sent  to  L'Orient. 
On  the  23d,  in  sight  of  Cape  Clear  and  the  south- 
west part  of  Ireland,  Jones  had  the  first  specimen  of 
what  he  was  to  expect  from  Captain  Landais.  We 
quote  from  his  official  account : 

"  That  afternoon,  it  being  calm,  I  sent  some  armed 
boats  to  take  a  brigantine  that  appeared  in  the  north- 
west quarter.  Soon  after,  in  the  evening,  it  became 
necessary  to  have  a  boat  ahead  of  the  ship  to  tow,  as 
the  helm  could  not  prevent  her  from  laying  across 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  153 

the  tide  of  flood,  which  would  have  driven  us  into  a 
deep  and  dangerous  bay,  situated  between  the  rocks 
on  the  south  called  the  Skallocks,  and  on  the  north 
called  the  Blaskets.  The  ship's  boats  being  absent, 
I  sent  my  own  barge  ahead  to  tow  the  ship.  The 
boats  took  the  brigantine ;  she  was  called  the  For- 
tune, and  bound  with  a  cargo  of  oil,  blubber,  and 
staves,  from  Newfoundland  for  Bristol ;  this  vessel 
I  ordered  to  proceed  immediately  for  ISl antes  or  St. 
Malo.  Soon  after  sunset  the  villains  who  towed  the 
ship  cut  the  tow  rope  and  decamped  with  my  barge. 
Sundry  shots  were  fired  to  bring  them  to,  without 
effect ;  in  the  meantime  the  master  of  the  Bon- 
homme  Richard,  without  orders,  manned  one  of  the 
ship's  boats,  and  with  four  soldiers  pursued  the  barge 
in  order  to  stop  the  deserters.  The  evening  was 
clear  and  serene,  but  the  zeal  of  that  officer,  Mr. 
Cutting  Lunt,  induced  him  to  pursue  too  far,  and  a 
fog  which  came  on  soon  afterward  prevented  the 
boats  from  rejoining  the  ship,  although  I  caused  sig- 
nal guns  to  be  frequently  fired.  The  fog  and  calm 
continued  the  next  day  till  towards  evening.  In  the 
afternoon.  Captain  Landais  came  on  board  the  Bon- 
homme  Richard  and  behaved  toward  me  with  great 
disrespect,  affirming  in  the  most  indelicate  manner 
and  language  that  I  had  lost  my  boats  and  people 
through  my  imprudence  in  sending  boats  to  take  a 
prize !  He  persisted  in  his  reproaches,  though  be 
was  assured  by  Messrs.  De  "Weibert  and  De  Chamil- 
lard  that  the  barge  was  towing  the  ship  at  the  time 
of  elopement,  and  that  she  had  not  been  sent  in  pur- 


154  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

suit  of  the  prize.  He  was  affronted,  because  I  would 
not  the  day  before  suffer  him  to  chase  without  my 
orders,  and  to  approach  the  dangerous  shore  I  have 
already  mentioned,  where  he  was  an  entire  stranger, 
and  where  there  was  not  sufficient  wind  to  govern  a 
ship.  He  told  me  he  was  the  only  American  in  the 
squadron,  and  was  determined  to  follow  his  own 
opinion  in  chasing  when  and  where  he  thought  prop- 
er, and  in  every  other  matter  that  concerned  the 
service  ;  and  that,  if  we  continued  in  that  situation 
three  days  longer,  the  squadron  would  be  taken." 

This  account  of  the  behavior  of  Landais  on  this 
occasion  is  confirmed,  with  immaterial  variations,  by 
several  respectable  officers  present.  His  gestures 
were  as  violent  and  indecorous  as  his  language. 
Colonel  Weibert  says  :  "  The  commodore  did  not  say 
to  M.  Landais, '  you  lie,'  but, '  it  is  an  untruth '  (refer- 
ring to  the  manner  in  which  the  boats  had  been  lost), 
which  M.  Landais  was  pleased  to  interpret  as  a 
formal  giving  the  lie ;  who  was  never  able  to  over- 
come his  peevish,  obstinate,  turbulent,  and  ungovern- 
able temper,  which  he  constantly  showed  during  the 
whole  of  the  campaign."  He  adds  that  Landais 
rendered  his  insulting  expressions  in  English  im- 
mediately into  French;  in  order  that  M.  Cha- 
millard,  who  was  present,  might  apprehend  their 
import. 

The  Cerf  was  sent  to  reconnoiter  the  coast,  and 
endeavor  to  recover  the  boats  and  people.  After 
standing  off  and  on  the  coast  till  the  evening  of  the 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  153 

26th,  neither  the  Cerf  nor  the  boats  appeared.  The 
Cerf,  Jones  says  in  his  Journal,  was  seen  by  Mr. 
Limt,  the  master,  on  the  day  she  was  sent  to  recon- 
noiter ;  and  he  approached  her  gladly,  "  but  that 
cutter  then  hoisting  English  colors  and  firing  at  the 
boat,  the  unhappy  Mr.  Lunt  imagined  himself  mis- 
taken, landed,  and  was  made  prisoner.  Thus  Captain 
Jones  lost  from  the  crew  of  the  Bonhomme  Rich- 
ard the  master  and  another  officer,  with  twenty  of 
his  best  seamen.  Mr.  Lunt  was  reconducted  to  a 
wretched  dungeon  in  England,  where  he  formerly 
had  long  experience  of  English  cruelty,  from  whence, 
it  is  reported,  he  was  at  last  relieved  by  death." 
The  cutter  w^as  not  subsequently  found  at  the  first 
or  second  rendezvous.  She  had  returned  to  France ; 
and  the  Grandville  having  secured  a  prize,  on  the 
26th,  followed  her  example. 

The  evening  of  that  day  was  very  stormy ;  and, 
against  his  own  judgment,  as  he  says,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  assertions  made  by  Landais,  he  left  a 
station  where  he  would  have  preferred  remaining  a 
week  longer.  In  his  Journal  for  the  king,  he  says, 
"It  was  his  intention  to  cruise  off  the  southwest 
coast  of  Ireland  for  twelve  or  fifteen  davs,  in  order 
to  interrupt  the  enemy's  homeward  bound  East 
India  ships,  that  he  had  been  informed  from  England 
would  return  without  convoy,  and  steer  for  that 
point  of  land.  But  Captain  Landais  of  the  Alliance 
began  to  speak  and  act  as  though  he  had  not  been 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Jones ;  and  made 
great  objections  to  remaining  on  that  coast,  express- 


156  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

ino"  apprehensions,  that  the  enemy  would  send  a 
superior  force."  Jones  made  the  signal  for  the 
course,  and  steered  to  the  northward ;  but  Captain 
Landais  chose  to  alter  his  course  two  points  by  the 
compass,  on  the  same  night,  and  was  not  seen  again 
until  the  31st,  when  he  rejoined  the  squadron  with 
a  letter  of  marque,  which  he  had  taken,  of  twenty 
guns,  bound  from  Liverpool  for  Jamaica,  with  a 
valuable  cargo.  He  appeared  in  sight  while  Jones 
was  giving  chase  to  another  letter  of  marque,  off 
Cape  Wrath,  which  proved  to  be  the  Union,  of 
twent^^-two  guns,  from  London  for  Quebec,  with  a 
cargo  of  great  value,  consisting  of  sails,  rigging, 
anchors,  cables,  etc.,  etc.,  for  the  enemy's  vessels  on 
the  lakes,  l^either  of  these  vessels  made  any 
resistance. 

Owing  to  Landais  hoisting  American  colors, 
though  English  were  flying  on  board  the  Bon- 
homme  Kichard,  the  public  despatches  on  board 
the  Union  were  lost.  Landais  sent  a  quaint  mes- 
sage, to  know  whether  Jones  or  he  should  man  the 
prize  ;  as,  in  the  latter  case,  he  would  suffer  no  boat 
nor  person  from  the  Bonhomme  Richard  to  go 
near  her.  Eidiculous  as  this  was,  Jones  says  he 
yielded  to  it  for  the  sake  of  peace,  and  received  the 
prisoners  on  board  his  ship,  while  the  prize  was 
manned  from  the  Alliance.  On  the  same  afternoon, 
and  on  the  next  morning,  Landais  refused  to  obey 
Jones'  signals,  and  on  the  3d  of  September  acted  in 
direct  opposition  to  his  orders,  in  relation  to  the 
two  prizes  he  had  been  ordered  to  bring  to  the  ren- 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  157 

dezvous.  He  sent  them  to  Bergen  in  Korway, 
where  they  were  given  up  to  the  English  by  the 
Danish  government. 

In  the  evening  of  the  4th  the  commodore  sent 
for  the  captains  to  come  on  board  of  his  ship,  to 
consult  on  future  operations.  Landais  refused  to 
comply,  and  sent  back  several  uncivil  messages,  and 
an  extraordinary  letter.  Mr.  Mease,  the  purser,  a 
very  gallant  man,  at  first  alone,  and  subsequently 
with  Captain  Cottineau  and  M.  Chamillard,  in  vain 
went  on  board  of  the  Alliance,  to  intercede  with  the 
doughty  sea  Achilles.  He  "  spoke  of  Captain  Jones 
in  terms  highly  disrespectful  and  insolent ;  and  said 
he  would  see  him  on  shore,  when  they  must  kill  one 
or  the  other,"  etc. 

A  gale  commenced  blowing  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  5th,  which  continued  for  some  days,  and  Landais 
separated  from  his  consorts  with  two  small  prizes 
which  he  had  picked  up.  The  Pallas  and  Vengeance 
alone  remained  with  the  Bonhomme  Richard ;  and 
the  winds  continued  contrary,  so  that  land  was  not 
seen  until  the  evening  of  the  13th,  when  the  Cheviot 
hills  in  the  south  of  Scotland  became  visible.  Jones 
proceeds  to  say  in  his  Journal :  ''  Though  much  weak- 
ened and  embarrassed  with  prisoners,  he  was  anxious 
to  teach  the  enemy  humanity,  by  some  exemplary 
strokes  of  retaliation,  and  to  relieve  the  remainder 
of  the  Americans  from  captivity,  in  England,  as  well 
as  to  make  a  diversion  in  the  north,  to  favor  a  for- 
midable descent  which  he  then  expected  would  have 
been  made  on  the  south  side  of  Great  Britain,  under 


158  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

cover  of  the  great  combined  fleet.  He  sent  for  tlie 
captains  of  the  Pallas  and  Vengeance,  and  communi- 
cated to  them  his  intentions ;  but,  after  spending  the 
whole  night,  all  his  arguments  on  the  side  of  honor 
and  humanity  failed.  He  then  spoke  to  their  ruling 
passion,  and  showed  them  a  large  heap  of  gold,  at 
the  end  of  the  prospect.  He  was  now  heard  with 
attention  ;  and  they  entered  warmly  into  his  project, 
which  Avas,  to  lay  Leith,  and  perhaps  Edinburgh, 
under  a  contribution."  He  was  apprised  that  an 
armed  ship  of  twenty  guns  and  two  or  three  fine 
cutters  lay  in  Leith  road ;  and,  had  he  been  alone 
he  says,  "  the  wind  being  favorable,  I  would  have, 
proceeded  directly  up  the  Firth,  and  must  have  suc- 
ceeded ;  as  they  lay  there  in  a  state  of  perfect  indo- 
lence and  security,  which  would  have  proved  their 
ruin.  Unfortunately  for  me,  the  Pallas  and  Venge- 
ance were  both  at  a  considerable  distance  in  the  off- 
ing ;  they  having  chased  to  the  southward ;  this  obliged 
us  to  steer  out  of  the  Firth  again  to  meet  them." 

The  prospect  of  levying  200,000  pounds  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  Leith  having  prevailed  upon  the 
French  commanders  to  assent  to  the  enterprise, 
every  order  was  given  for  taking  the  guard  ship  and 
cutters,  and  every  disposition  made  for  landing 
troops  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Chamillard.  The 
summons  to  the  magistrates  of  Leith,  and  the 
capitulation  they  were  to  sign  were  prepared ;  but 
"  so  much  time  had  been  unavoidably  spent  in 
pointed  remarks  and  sage  deliberations  that  night, 
that  the  wind  became  contrary  in  the  morning." 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  169 

The  following  note,  in  his  own  handwriting,  is 
subjoined  to  a  copy  of  this  summons :  "  N.  B. — The 
sudden  and  violent  storm  which  arose  in  the  moment 
when  the  squadron  was  abreast  of  Keith  Island 
(Inchkeith  Island),  which  forms  the  entrance  of  the 
road  of  Leith,  rendered  impracticable  the  execution 
of  the  foregoing  project."  Jones  did  not,  however, 
abandon  readily  what  he  had  so  resolutely  under- 
taken, notwithstanding  he  must  have  been  aware, 
as  was  the  fact,  that  the  alarm  had  become  general 
on  the  shore,  and  in  the  interior.  An  express 
reached  Edinburgh  on  the  15th,  announcing  that 
three  strange  ships  were  seen  off  Eyemouth  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  preceding  day,  and  that  a  ship, 
supposed  to  mount  forty  or  fifty  guns,  had  been 
seen  off  Dunbar.  At  5  p.  m.  on  the  15th  they  were 
distinctly  seen  from  Edinburgh,  sailing  up  the  Frith 
of  Forth ;  but  whether  they  were  French  vessels,  or 
the  squadron  of  Paul  Jones,  was  not  ascertained. 
Batteries  were  hastily  erected  at  Leith,  and  the 
trades  petitioned  for  arms,  which  were  supplied  from 
the  castle  of  Edinburgh.  So  runs  the  oft-told  story 
which  I  transcribe.  Jones  says  :  "We  continued 
working  to  windward  up  the  Frith  without  being 
able  to  reach  the  road  of  Leith,  till  on  the  morning 
of  the  17th,  when,  being  almost  within  cannon-shot 
of  the  town,  having  everything  in  readiness  for  a 
descent,  a  very  severe  gale  of  wind  came  on,  and 
being  directly  contrary,  obliged  us  to  bear  away, 
after  having  in  vain  endeavored  for  some  time  to 
withstand  its  violence.     The  gale  was  so  sever© 


160  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

that  one  of  the  prizes  that  had  been  taken  on  the 
14th  sunk  to  the  bottom,  the  crew  being  with  diffi- 
culty saved.  As  the  alarm  by  this  time  had  reached 
Leith,  by  means  of  a  cutter  that  had  watched  our 
motions  that  morning,  and  as  the  wind  continued 
contrary  (though  more  moderate  in  the  evening),  I 
thought  it  impossible  to  pursue  the  enterprise  with 
a  good  prospect  of  success ;  especially  as  Edinburgh, 
"where  there  is  always  a  number  of  troops,  is  only  a 
mile  distant  from  Leith ;  therefore  I  gave  up  the 
project." 

An  incident  which  showed  how  much  the  spec- 
tators on  shore  were  yet  in  the  dark  occurred  on 
the  16th,  which  Jones  thus  relates  in  his  Journal  : 
"  A  member  of  the  British  Parliament  sent  off  a 
boat  from  the  north  shore,  to  give  information  that 
he  was  greatly  afraid  of  Paul  Jones,  and  begging 
for  some  powder  and  shot.  Captain  Jones  set  his 
fears  to  rest  by  sending  him  a  barrel  of  powder,  with 
a  kind  message,  but  had  no  suitable  shot.''  The 
principal  messenger  he  detained  as  pilot  for  the 
road  of  Leith.  It  appears  that  he  also  employed  the 
captain  of  a  small  collier,  taken  on  the  loth,  to 
assist  hirr-  by  his  knowledge  of  the  coast ;  and  when 
he  afterwards  abandoned  the  enterprise,  he  gave 
this  man  up  his  vessel,  "  on  account  of  his  attach- 
ment to  America,  and  the  faithful  information  and 
important  services  he  rendered  by  his  general  knowl- 
edge of  the  east  coast  of  Britain.  I  had  given 
orders  to  sink  the  old  vessel,  when  the  tears  of  this 
honest  man  prevailed  over  my  intention." 


LE  BONHOMME  RICHARD.  i^i 

Thus  were  the  good  citizens  of  Leith  preserved 
from  the  necessity  of  opening  their  coffers,  when 
two  tacks  more  would  have  brought  Jones  alongside 
the  enemy  in  the  road.  He  would  not  3^et  give  up 
the  design  of  effecting  some  enterprise  of  pith  upon 
the  coast.  He  treated  the  humors  of  the  wind  as 
policy  and  necessity  compelled  him  to  treat  those 
of  his  absent  associate,  Landais  ;  and,  as  soon  as  the 
gale  abated,  he  endeavored  to  prevail  on  the  captains 
of  the  Pallas  and  Vengeance  to  co-operate.  But 
these  gentlemen  did  not  like  the  "  glory  "  they  had 
got,  the  gale,  or  the  preparation  on  shore.  M.  Cot- 
tineau  told  him  that  a  superior  force  would  be  sent 
against  him  ;  and  that,  if  he  continued  two  days 
longer  on  the  coast,  they  would  all  be  taken.  Being 
aware,  by  some  means,  which  Jones  ascribed  to  the 
communicativeness  of  M.  Chaumont,  of  the  limita- 
tion of  the  cruise,  and  its  termination  at  the  Texel, 
one  of  the  captains  informed  a  lieutenant  of  the 
Bonhomme  Kichard  that  *'they  would  leave  the 
commodore  if  he  did  not  agree  to  steer  for  the 
port  of  destination."  Setting  aside  the  question  of 
subordination,  the  gallantry  of  these  gentlemen  is 
not  to  be  impeached.  They  felt  like  men  attacking 
in  the  dark,  with  a  comparatively  ridiculous  force, 
a  fortress,  the  strength  of  which  they  had  reason 
to  suppose  was  great.  Jones  knew  the  weakness 
of  some  of  the  outworks ;  but  he  had  not  yet  had 
opportunities  to  convince  them  of  his  extraordinary 
shrewdness,  local  information,  and  capacity  to  exe- 
cute designs,  which  to  them  appeared  visionary. 


162  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Their  education  (independent  of  their  national  feel- 
ing, involving  personal  and  professional  pride,  not 
unallied  to  captious  jealousy),  had  been  probably 
selon  les  regies.  Jones  had  educated  himself  as  to 
detail,  and  had  learned  from  Count  d'Orvilliers 
the  duties  of  a  commander  of  great  fleets.  With  his 
force  at  that  time,  provided  he  did  not  contravene 
the  laws  of  Congress,  his  own  moral  sense,  or  what 
would  seem  justifiable  in  the  eyes  of  Dr.  Franklin, 
he  was  not  particular  as  to  the  manner  in  which  he 
"  retaliated  "  upon  the  enemy.  He  found  it,  however, 
necessary  to  yield  to  the  opposition  of  the  French 
commanders.  In  his  official  account,  he  says :  "  I 
am  persuaded  even  now  that  I  would  have  suc- 
ceeded ;  and,  to  the  honor  of  my  young  officers,  I 
found  them  as  ardently  disposed  to  the  business  as 
I  could  desire  ;  nothing  prevented  me  from  pursuing 
my  design  but  the  reproach  that  would  have  been 
cast  upon  my  character,  as  a  man  of  prudence,  had 
the  enterprise  miscarried.  It  would  have  been  said, 
^  "Was  he  not  forewarned  by  Captain  Cotfcineau  and 
others  ? '  " 

Many  coasters  and  colliers  were  taken,  several  of 
which  were  sunk  by  the  squadron  in  the  Frith  of 
Forth.  Much  damage  was  done  to  the  coal  trade ; 
but  it  is  unnecessary  to  Aveary  the  reader  with  par- 
ticulars. Captain  Cottineau  undertook  to  ransom  a 
sloop,  though  Jones  had  told  him  previously  he  had 
no  authority  to  ransom  prizes.  It  was  probably  an 
inexcusable  act,  and  the  commodore  does  not  subse- 
quently dwell  upon  it. 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  163 


CHAPTER  IX. 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS. 


And  now,  after  having  agonized  through  a  period 
of  fifteen  months,  during  which  hope  was  not  only 
deferred,  but  crucified  in  each  lunar  circle ;  after 
having  set  sail  with  a  force  that  mocked  all  the 
promises  made  to  him,  in  an  old  ship,  fit  only  for  a 
great  sacrifice  by  which  her  rotten  timbers  might 
be  eternized ;  after  having  been  abandoned  by  half 
of  his  squadron,  and  having  taken  a  few  prizes,  of 
which,  the  most  valuable  had  been  lost  by  disobe- 
dience and  caprice.  Captain  Jones  was  making  for 
the  Texel,  in  that  frame  of  mind  which  heroic  pro- 
jectors of  original  enterprises,  who  have  been  foiled 
by  the  weakness  of  their  agents  and  the  ever  vary- 
ing elements,  can  alone  understand. 

The  battle  between  the  Bonhomme  Richard  and 
the  Serapis  must  always  be  told  to  disadvantage, 
if  uot  in  the  woixls  of  the  conqueror.  It  was  fought 
on  the  evening  and  in  the  night  of  September  23d, 
under  a  bright  and  beautiful  harvest  moon,  and  its 
issue  awaited  by  multitudes  (thousands,  it  is  said), 
who  watched  the  engagement  from  the  shore.  The 
remark  often  made,  that  it  has  no  parallel  in  the 
history  of  naval  engagements,  has  no  exception  of 


164  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

which  we  are  aware,  if  restricted  to  those  between 
ships  of  civilized  nations.  The  official  account  of 
Jones  follows : 

"  On  the  21st  we  saw  and  chased  two  sail  off 
Flam  borough  Head ;  the  Pallas  chased  in  the  N. 
E.  quarter,  while  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  followed 
by  the  Vengeance,  chased  in  the  S.  AY. ;  the  one  I 
chased,  a  brigantine  collier  in  ballast,  belonging  to 
Scarborough,  was  soon  taken,  and  sunk  immediately 
afterwards,  as  a  fleet  then  appeared  to  the  south- 
ward. This  was  so  late  in  the  day  that  I  could  not 
come  up  with  the  fleet  before  night ;  at  length,  how- 
ever, I  got  so  near  one  of  them  as  to  force  her  to 
run  ashore  between  Flam  borough  Head  and  the 
Spurn.  Soon  after  I  took  another,  a  brigantine 
from  Holland,  belonging  to  Sunderland,  and  at  day- 
light the  next  morning,  seeing  a  fleet  steering  to- 
wards me  from  the  Spurn,  I  imagined  them  to  be  a 
convoy  bound  from  London  for  Leith,  which  had 
been  for  some  time  expected.  One  of  them  had  a 
pennant  hoisted,  and  appeared  to  be  a  ship  of  force. 
They  had  not,  however,  courage  to  come  on,  but 
kept  back,  all  except  the  one  which  seemed  to  be 
armed,  and  that  one  also  kept  to  the  windward,  very 
near  the  land,  and  on  the  edge  of  dangerous  shoals, 
where  I  could  not  with  safety  approach.  This  in- 
duced me  to  make  a  signal  for  a  pilot,  and  soon  after- 
wards two  pilots'  boats  came  off.  They  informed 
me  that  a  ship  that  wore  a  pennant  was  an  armed 
merchantman,  and  that  a  king's  frigate  lay  there  in 


FIGHT  BETWEEN  THE  BONHOMME  RICHARD  AND  THE  SERAPIS. 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  165 

Sight,  at  anchor,  within  the  Ilumber,  waiting  to 
take  under  convoy  a  number  of  merchant  ships 
bound  to  the  northward.  The  pilots  imagined  the 
Bonhomme  Richard  to  be  an  English  ship-of-war, 
and  consequently  communicated  to  me  the  private 
signal  which  they  had  been  required  to  make.  I 
endeavored  by  this  means  to  decoy  the  ships  out  of 
the  port ;  but  the  wind  then  changing,  and  with  the 
tide  becoming  unfavorable  for  them,  the  deception 
had  not  the  desired  effect,  and  they  wisely  put  back. 
The  entrance  of  the  Humber  is  exceedingly  difficult 
and  dangerous,  and  as  the  Pallas  was  not  in  sight, 
I  thought  it  imprudent  to  remain  off  the  entrance, 
therefore  steered  out  again  to  join  the  Pallas  off 
Flamborough  Head.  In  the  night  we  saw  and 
chased  two  ships  until  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when,  being  at  a  very  small  distance  from  them,  I 
made  the  private  signal  of  reconnoissance,  which  I 
had  given  to  each  captain  before  I  sailed  from  Groix : 
one  half  of  the  answer  only  was  returned.  In  this 
position  both  sides  lay  to  till  daylight,  when  the 
ships  proved  to  be  the  Alliance  and  the  Pallas. 

"  On  the  morning  of  that  day,  the  23d,  the  brig 
from  Holland  not  being  in  sight,  we  chased  a  brig- 
antine  that  appeared  laying  to,  to  windward.  About 
noon  we  saw  and  chased  a  large  ship  that  appeared 
coming  round  Flamborough  Head,  from  the  north- 
ward, and  at  the  same  time  I  manned  and  armed 
one  of  the  pilot  boats  to  send  in  pursuit  of  the  brig- 
antine,  which  now  appeared  to  be  the  vessel  that  I 
had  forced  ashore.    Soon  after  this,  a  fleet  of  forty- 


166  LITE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

one  sail  appeared  off  Flamborough  Head  bearing 
N.  N.  E.  This  induced  me  to  abandon  the  single 
ship  which  had  then  anchored  in  Burlington  Bay ; 
I  also  called  back  the  pilot  boat,  and  hoisted  a  signal 
for  a  general  chase.  When  the  fleet  discovered  us 
bearing  down,  all  the  merchant  ships  crowded  sail 
towards  the  shore.  The  two  ships-of-war  that  pro- 
tected the  fleet  at  the  same  time  steered  from  the 
land,  and  made  the  disposition  for  battle.  In  ap- 
proaching the  enemy,  I  crowded  every  possible  sail, 
and  made  the  signal  for  the  line  of  battle,  to  which 
the  Alliance  showed  no  attention.  Earnest  as  I  was 
for  the  action,  I  could  not  reach  the  commodore's 
ship  until  seven  in  the  evening,  being  then  within 
pistol  shot,  when  he  hailed  the  Bonhomme  Eichard. 
"We  answered  him  by  firing  a  whole  broadside. 

"  The  battle,  being  thus  begun,  was  continued  with 
unremitting  fury.  Every  method  was  practised  on 
both  sides  to  gain  an  advantage,  and  rake  each 
other ;  and  I  must  confess  that  the  enemy's  ship, 
beino:  much  more  manao^eable  than  the  Bonhomme 
Eichard,  gained  thereby  several  times  an  advan- 
tageous situation,  in  spite  of  my  best  endeavors  to 
prevent  it.  As  I  had  to  deal  with  an  enemy  of 
greatly  superior  force,  I  was  under  the  necessity  of 
closing  with  him,  to  prevent  the  advantage  which 
he  had  over  me  in  point  of  maneuver.  It  was  my 
intention  to  lay  the  Bonhomme  Eichard  athwart 
the  enemj'-'s  bow;  but  as  that  operation  required 
great  dexterity  in  the  management  of  both  sails 
and  helm,  and  some  of  our  braces  being  shot  away, 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  197 

it  did  not  exactly  succeed  to  my  wish.  The 
enemy's  bowsprit,  however,  came  over  the  Bon- 
fa  omme  Kichard's  poop  by  the  mizzen-mast,  and  I 
made  both  ships  fast  together  in  that  situation, 
which,  by  the  action  of  the  wind  on  the  enemy's 
sails,  forced  her  stern  close  to  the  Bonhomme 
Kichard's  bow,  so  that  the  ships  lay  square  along- 
side of  each  other,  the  yards  being  all  entangled, 
and  the  cannon  of  each  ship  touching  the  opponent's. 
When  this  position  took  place,  it  was  eight  o'clock, 
previous  to  which  the  Bonhomme  Bi chard  had  re- 
ceived sundry  eighteen-pound  shots  below  the  water, 
and  leaked  very  much.  My  battery  of  twelve- 
pounders,  on  which  I  had  placed  my  chief  depend- 
ence, being  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Dale  and 
Colonel  Weibert,  and  manned  principally  with 
American  seamen  and  French  volunteers,  was  en- 
tirely silenced  and  abandoned.  As  to  the  six  old 
eighteen-pounders  that  formed  the  battery  of  the 
lower  gun-deck,  they  did  no  service  whatever,  except 
firing  eight  shot  in  all.  Two  out  of  three  of  them 
burst  at  the  first  fire,  and  killed  almost  all  the  men 
who  were  stationed  to  manage  them. 

"  Before  this  time,  too.  Colonel  de  Chamillard, 
who  commanded  a  party  of  twenty  soldiers  on  the 
poop,  had  abandoned  that  station  after  having  lost 
some  of  his  men.  I  had  now  only  two  pieces  of 
cannon  (nine-pounders)  on  the  quarter-deck,  that 
were  not  silenced,  and  not  one  of  the  heavier  can- 
non was  fired  during  the  action.  The  purser,  M. 
Mease,  who  commanded  the  guns  on  the  quarte^ 


^QQ  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

deck,  being  dangerously  wounded  in  the  head,  I  was 
obliged  to  fill  his  place,  and  with  great  difficulty 
rallied  a  few  men,  and  shifted  over  one  of  the  lee 
quarter-deck  guns,  so  that  we  afterwards  played 
three  pieces  of  nine-pounders  upon  the  enemy. 

"  The  tops  alone  seconded  the  fire  of  this  little 
battery,  and  held  out  bravely  during  the  whole  of 
the  action,  especially  the  maintop,  where  Lieutenant 
Stack  commanded.  I  directed  the  fire  of  one  of  the 
three  cannon  against  the  main-mast,  with  double- 
headed  shot,  while  the  other  two  were  exceedingly 
well  served  with  grape  and  canister  shot,  to  silence 
the  enemy's  musketry  and  clear  the  decks,  which 
was  at  last  effected.  The  enemy  were,  as  I  have 
since  understood,  on  the  instant  of  calling  for 
quarter,  when  the  cowardice  or  treachery  of  three  of 
my  under-officers  induced  them  to  call  to  the  enemy. 
The  English  commodore  asked  me  if  I  demanded 
quarter,  and  I  having  answered  him  in  the  most 
determined  negative,  they  renewed  the  battle  with 
double  fury. 

"  They  were  unable  to  stand  the  deck  ;  but  the 
fire  of  their  cannon,  especially  the  lower  battery, 
which  was  entirely  formed  of  ten-pounders,  was  in- 
cessant; both  ships  were  set  on  fire  in  various 
places,  and  the  scene  was  dreadful  beyond  the  reach 
of  language.  To  account  for  the  timidity  of  my 
three  under-officers,  I  mean,  the  gunner,  the  carpen- 
ter, and  the  master-at-arms,  I  must  observe  that  the 
first  two  were  slightly  wounded,  and,  as  the  ship 
had  received  various  shot  under  water,  and  one  of 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  169 

the  pumps  being  shot  away,  the  carpenter  expressed 
his  fears  that  she  would  sink,  and  the  other  two 
concluded  that  she  was  sinking,  which  occasioned 
the  gunner  to  run  aft  on  the  poop,  without  my 
knowledge,  to  strike  the  colors.  Fortunately  for 
me,  a  cannon  ball  had  done  that  before,  by  carrying 
away  the  ensign-staff  ;  he  was  therefore  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  sinking,  as  he  supposed,  or  of  call- 
ing for  quarter,  and  he  preferred  the  latter. 

*' All  this  time  the  Bonhomme  Eichard  had  sus- 
tained the  action  alone,  and  the  enemy,  though 
much  superior  in  force,  would  have  been  very  glad 
to  have  got  clear,  as  appears  by  their  own 
acknowledgments,  and  by  their  having  let  go  an 
anchor  the  instant  that  I  laid  them  on  board,  by 
which  means  they  would  have  escaped,  had  I  not 
made  them  well  fast  to  the  Bonhomme  Eichard. 

"  At  last,  at  half-past  nine  o'clock,  the  Alliance 
appeared,  and  I  now  thought  the  battle  at  an  end ; 
but,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  he  discharged  a 
broadside  full  into  the  stern  of  the  Bonhomme 
Eichard.  We  called  to  him  for  God's  sake  to  for- 
bear  firing  into  the  Bonhomme  Eichard ;  yet  they 
passed  along  the  off-side  of  the  ship,  and  continued 
firing.  There  was  no  possibility  of  his  mistaking 
the  enemy's  ship  for  the  Bonhomme  Eichard,  there 
being  the  most  essential  difference  in  their  appear- 
ance and  construction.  Besides,  it  was  then  full 
moonlight,  and  the  sides  of  the  Bonhomme  Eich- 
ard were  all  black,  while  the  sides  of  the  prize  were 
all  yellow.     Yet,  for  the  greater  security,  I  showed 


170  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  signal  of  our  reconnoissance,  by  putting  out 
three  lanterns,  one  at  the  head,  another  at  the  stern, 
and  the  third  in  the  middle,  in  a  horizontal  line. 

"  Every  tongue  cried  that  he  was  firing  into  the 
wrong  ship,  but  nothing  availed ;  he  passed  round, 
firing  into  the  Bonhomme  Richard's  head,  stern, 
and  broadside,  and  by  one  of  his  volleys  killed 
several  of  my  best  men,  and  mortally  wounded  a 
good  officer  on  the  forecastle  only.  My  situation 
was  really  deplorable ;  the  Bonhomme  Richard  re- 
ceived various  shot  under  water  from  the  Alliance ; 
the  leak  gained  on  the  pumps,  and  the  fire  increased 
much  on  board  both  ships. 

Some  officers  persuaded  me  to  strike,  of  whose 
courage  and  good  sense  I  entertain  a  high  opinion. 
My  treacherous  master-at-arms  let  loose  all  my 
prisoners  without  my  knowledge,  and  my  prospects 
became  gloomy  indeed.  I  would  not,  however,  give 
up  the  point. 

"  The  enemy's  main-mast  began  to  shake ;  their 
firing  decreased  fast ;  ours  rather  increased,  and  the 
British  colors  were  struck  at  half  an  hour  past  ten 
o'clock." 

The  main-mast  went  by  the  board  just  as  the 
enemy  struck,  so  both  Captain  Jones  and  Captain 
Pearson  report. 

Jones  notices  it  as  very  remarkable  how  well  the 
three  light  quarter-deck  guns  were  seized  during  the 
whole  action,  and  the  confusion  that  ensued  when 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  171 

the  water  was  gaining  below,  the  ships  alternately 
catching  fire  from  each  other,  the  Alliance  firing 
at  the  Bonhomme  Eichard,  and  the  prisoners  set 
loose. 

"  He  got  one  of  the  off  guns  over  soon  after 
the  Alliance  raked  the  first  time,  but  could  nev^er 
muster  strength  sufficient  to  bring  over  the  other." 
In  the  clear  moonlight,  the  enemy's  mast  being 
painted  yellow,  the  flames  of  the  main  shrouds,  etc., 
made  the  main-mast  a  distinct  mark. 

"  There  was  no  occasion  for  a  boat  or  bridge  be- 
tween the  two  ships.  Captain  Pearson  stepped  on 
board  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  and  delivered  up 
his  sword  to  Captain  Jones,  who  returned  it  to  him, 
because  he  had  bravely  used  it.  He  then  heard, 
and  the  next  morning  saw,  with  astonishment,  the 
inferior  force  and  mangled  condition  of  the  Bon- 
homme Eichard. 

"This  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  ship-of- 
war  Serapis,  a  new  ship  of  forty-four  guns,  built  on 
the  most  approved  construction,  with  two  complete 
batteries,  one  of  them  of  eighteen-pounders,  and 
commanded  by  the  brave  Commodore  Eichard 
Pearson.  I  had  yet  two  enemies  to  encounter,  far 
more  formidable  than  the  British,  I  mean  fire  and 
water.  The  Serapis  was  attacked  only  by  the  first ; 
but  the  Bonhomme  Eichard  was  assailed  by  both  ; 
there  was  five  feet  of  water  in  the  hold,  and  though 
it  was  moderate  from  the  explosion  of  so  much  gun- 
powder, yet  the  three  pumps  that  remained  could 
with  difficulty  only  keep  the  water  from  gaining. 


1Y2  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

The  fire  broke  out  in  various  parts  of  the  ship,  in 
spite  of  all  the  water  that  could  be  thrown  in  to 
quench  it,  and  at  length  broke  out  as  low  as  the 
powder  magazine,  and  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
powder. 

"  In  that  dilemma,  I  took  out  the  powder  upon 
deck,  read^''  to  be  thrown  overboard  at  the  last 
extremitv,  and  it  was  ten  o'clock  the  next  dav,  the 
24:th,  before  the  fire  was  entirely  extinguished. 

"  With  respect  to  the  situation  of  the  Bonhomme 
Kichard,  the  rudder  was  cut  entirely  off,  the  stern 
frame  and  transoms  were  almost  entirely  cut  away, 
and  the  timbers  by  the  lower  deck,  especially  from 
the  main-mast  towards  the  stern,  being  greatly 
decayed  with  age,  were  mangled  beyond  the  power 
of  description,  and  a  person  must  have  been  an  eye- 
witness to  form  a  just  idea  of  the  tremendous  scene 
of  carnage,  wreck,  and  ruin,  which  everywhere  ap- 
peared. 

"  The  Bonhomme  Richard  received  little  damage 
in  her  masts ;  but  was  cut  entirely  to  pieces  between 
decks,  especially  from  the  main-mast  to  the  stern. 
In  that  space,  there  was  an  entire  break  on  both 
sides,  from  the  gun-deck,  almost  to  the  water's  edge ; 
so  that  towards  the  end  of  the  action,  almost  all  the 
shot  of  the  Scrap  is  had  passed  through  the  Bon- 
homme Eichard,  without  touching.  The  rudder 
and  transoms  were  cut  off ;  and  here  and  there  an 
old  rotten  timber,  besides  the  stern-post,  was  the 
only  support  that  prevented  the  stern  from  falling 
down  on  the  gun-room  deck.    Eight  or  ten  of  the 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  173 

Bonhomme  Kichard's  men  took  away  a  fine  cutter 
boat,  that  had  been  at  the  stern  of  the  Serapis  dur- 
ing the  action,  and  landed  at  Scarborough.  Some 
others  were  so  much  afraid  as  to  swim  on  board  the 
Alliance  after  the  action. 

"  After  the  carpenters,  as  well  as  Captain  Cotti- 
neau  and  other  men  of  sense,  had  well  examined 
and  surveyed  the  ship  (which  was  not  finished  before 
five  in  the  evening),  I  found  every  person  to  be  con- 
vinced that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  Bon- 
homme Eichard  afloat  so  as  to  reach  a  port,  if  the 
wind  should  increase,  it  being  then  only  a  very 
moderate  breeze.  I  had  but  little  time  to  remove 
my  wounded,  which  now  became  unavoidable,  and 
which  was  effected  in  the  course  of  the  night  and 
next  morning. 

"I  was  determined  to  keep  the  Bonhomme 
Kichard  afloat,  and,  if  possible,  to  bring  her  into 
port.  For  that  purpose,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Pallas  continued  on  board  with  a  party  of  men  to 
attend  the  pumps,  with  boats  in  waiting  ready  to 
take  them  on  board,  in  case  the  water  should  gain 
on  them  too  fast.  The  wind  augmented  in  the  night, 
and  the  next  day,  the  25th,  so  that  it  was  impossible 
to  prevent  the  good  old  ship  from  sinking.  They 
did  not  abandon  her  till  after  nine  o'clock ;  the 
water  was  then  up  to  the  lower  deck,  and  a  little 
after  ten  I  saw,  with  inexpressible  grief,  the  last 
glimpse  of  the  Bonhomme  Kichard.  No  lives  were 
lost  with  the  ship,  but  it  was  impossible  to  save  the 
stores  of  any  sort  whatever.     I  lost  even  the  best 


174:  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

part  of  my  clothes,  books,  and  papers ;  and  several 
of  my  officers  lost  all  their  clothes  and  effects. 

"Captain  Cottineau  engaged  the  Countess  of 
Scarborough,  and  took  her,  after  an  hour's  action, 
while  the  Bonhomme  Richard  engaged  the  Serapis. 
The  Countess  of  Scarborough  is  an  armed  ship  of 
twenty  six-pounders,  and  was  commanded  by  a 
king's  officer.  In  the  action,  the  Countess  of  Scar- 
borough and  the  Serapis  were  at  a  considerable 
distance  asunder ;  and  the  Alliance,  as  I  am  in- 
formed, fired  into  the  Pallas  and  killed  some  men. 

"  If  it  should  be  asked  why  the  convoy  was 
suffered  to  escape,  I  must  answer  that  I  was  myself 
in  no  condition  to  pursue,  and  that  none  of  the  rest 
showed  any  inclination  ;  not  even  Mr.  Eicot,  who 
had  held  off  at  a  distance  to  ^\'indward  during  the 
whole  action,  and  withheld  by  force  the  pilot  boat 
with  my  lieutenant  and  fifteen  men.  The  Alliance, 
too,  was  in  a  state  to  pursue  the  fleet,  not  having  a 
single  man  wounded,  or  a  single  shot  fired  at  her 
from  the  Serapis,  and  only  three  that  did  execution 
from  the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  at  such  a  distance 
that  one  stuck  in  the  side,  and  the  other  two  just 
touched,  and  then  dropped  into  the  water.  The 
Alliance  killed  one  man  only  on  board  the  Serapis. 
As  Captain  de  Cottineau  charged  himself  with 
manning  and  securing  the  prisoners  of  the  Countess 
of  Scarborough,  I  think  the  escape  of  the  Baltic 
fleet  cannot  so  well  be  chare^ed  to  his  account. 

"  I  should  have  mentioned  that  the  main-mast 
and  mizzen-top-mast  of  the  Serapis  fell  overboard, 


BATTLE  WITH  THE  SERAPIS.  176 

soon  after  the  Captain  had  come  on  board  the  Bon- 
hoinme  Richard." 

The  oflGlcial  loss  of  the  wounded  on  board  the 
Serapis,  of  whom  eight  had  died  when  it  is  dated, 
September  30th,  amounts  to  68,  besides  a  few  whose 
names  could  not  be  ascertained.  Of  the  dead  there 
is  no  official  return  before  me.  In  the  roll  of  the 
Bonhomme  Richard's  equipage,  published  in  Sher- 
burne's Collections,  42  are  returned  killed,  and 
40  wounded.  There  are,  however,  but  228  names 
on  this  imperfect  document,  which  is  without  date 
or  vouched ;  and  in  which  the  master,  Mr.  Cutting 
Lunt,  is  called  the  third  lieutenant,  Mr.  Stacey,  act- 
ing master,  the  master,  etc.  Captain  Pearson  says, 
"  Our  loss  in  the  Serapis  was  very  great."  Jones 
says  in  his  Journal  for  the  king : 

"  By  a  return  of  the  surgeon  of  the  Serapis,  they 
had  an  hundred  men  dangerously  wounded  on  board 
that  ship  in  the  action.  Their  loss  appears  to  be 
that  number  killed.  They  having  taken  on  board 
some  East  India  seamen  at  Copenhagen,  over  and 
above  their  complement,  their  crew  appears  to  have 
been  four  hundred  effective  men,  when  the  action 
began.  Captain  Jones  had  but  three  hundred  and 
eighty,  good  and  bad,  when  he  left  France.  He 
had  manned  several  prizes,  which,  with  desertions 
on  the  coast  of  Ireland  and  Scotland,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  the  pilot  boat,  with  two  officers  and  sixteen 
of  his  best  men,  reduced  him  to  three  hundred  and 


176  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

forty,  including  the  disaffected,  which  were  a  great 
majority  of  the  whole,  as  they  were  chiefly  British, 
w^ho  had  enlisted  from  the  prisons  of  France. 

"  It  may  also  be  observed,  the  officers  and  men 
placed  in  the  gun-room,  sixty  in  number,  did  not 
discharge  a  second  shot,  nor  otherwise  assist,  and 
cannot  properly  be  said  to  have  been  in  the  action. 
To  say  nothing  of  the  damage  done  by  the  Countess 
of  Scarborough  and  the  Alliance,  the  enemy  was 
superior  in  cannon,  as  576  is  to  390,  besides  a  greater 
superiority  of  men ;  and  had  thirteen  feet  three 
inches  between  her  guns  ;  whereas,  the  guns  of  the 
Bonhomme  Richard  were  only  nine  feet  six  inches 
asunder. 

"  Captain  Jones  took  command  of  the  Serapis, 
and  erected  jury-masts.  After  tossing  about  to  and 
fro  in  the  North  Sea,  for  ten  days,  in  contrary  winds 
and  bad  weather,  in  order  to  gain  the  port  of  Dun- 
kirk, on  account  of  the  prisoners,  the  captains  under 
his  command,  after  some  cabal,  bore  away  for  the 
Texel,  and  left  him  to  windward,  with  the  choice  to 
follow  or  proceed.  (Captain  Jones  never  had  three 
hours'  sleep  in  the  twenty-four,  in  the  whole  cam- 
paign, from  L'Orient  to  the  Texel.)  The  squadron 
anchored  oif  the  Texel  the  3d  of  October,  1779; 
and  they  persisted  in  working  into  the  port,  though 
the  wind  was  fair  for  Dunkirk  the  next  morning." 


JOHN   PAUL   JONES    BOARDING   THE    SERAPIS. 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  17T 


CHAPTEE  X. 

IN  THE   TEXEL. 

In  the  blaze  of  his  renown,  and  with  the  spoil  of 
his  victory,  Jones  was  a  second  time  to  contend  with 
a  series  of  difficulties,  more  intricate  than  the  court 
intrigues  which  had  before  exhausted  his  patience ; 
but  not,  fortunately,  so  protracted,  before  he  was 
to  leave  the  port  he  had  entered  in  triumph.  This 
he  effected  with  all  his  honor  saved,  gained  addi- 
tional fame  by  his  perfect  seamanship,  and  was 
directly  and  materially  instrumental  in  producing 
an  open  rupture  between  England  and  Holland.  It 
is  not  doubted  that  this  contingency  was  contem- 
plated, when  he  had  orders  to  make  the  Texel  his 
port  of  destination. 

The  reader  will  have  understood  the  difficulties 
which  prevented  any  vessels  or  naval  stores  intended 
for  the  service  of  the  United  States  from  being 
openly  taken  out  of  the  ports  of  Holland,  a  nomi- 
nally neutral  power,  which  had  not  yet  recognized 
the  independence  of  the  abjuring  Colonies,  and  was 
bound  to  England  by  ancient  treaties.  Both  the 
letter  and  the  spirit  of  these  had  indeed  been  vio- 
lated; and  so  far  as  that  of  1678,  which  bound  their 
high  mightiness  to  break  with  any  aggressor  against 
their  ally,  it  had   been  treated  as  obsolete.    And 

12 


178  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

they  were  preparing  to  accede  to  the  system  of  an 
armed  neutrality,  proposed  by  Kussia,  though  the 
treaty  was  not  signed  until  the  middle  of  the  follow- 
ing year.  The  merchants  of  Amsterdam  and  the 
Grand  Pensionary  were  earnestly  desirous  of  the 
success  of  the  American  arras.  Secret  negotiations 
had  been  pending,  and  the  form  of  a  treaty  of  amity 
and  commerce  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Mr. 
Laurens,  thrown  overboard  by  him  previous  to  his 
capture,  but  recovered,  which  led  the  government 
of  Britain  to  give  immediate  attention  to  all  that 
was  passing  in  the  ports  of  Holland,  and  to  give 
particular  instructions  to  their  minister,  Sir  Joseph 
Yorke,  who  faithfully  executed  them. 

M.  de  la  Sartine  addressed  Franklin  on  the  5th 
of  September,  in  relation  to  the  scheme  of  bringing 
out  the  Indien  and  other  ships,  designated  as  Dutch 
and  neutral,  which  were  at  the  King's  charge,  and 
sundry  munitions  of  war,  which  the  minister  styles, 
"  tres  interessantes,"  from  the  ports  of  Holland  into 
those  of  France.  He  had  given  orders,  he  said,  that 
they  should  be  in  readiness  by  the  expiration  of  the 
month,  when  the  limitation  of  Jones'  cruise  would 
expire ;  in  order  that  he  might  attend  to  them,  under 
the  instructions  of  the  American  ambassador.  A 
copy  of  this  letter  awaited  Jones  on  his  arrival  in 
the  Texel  road,  with  a  request  from  Franklin  that 
"he  would  do  his  utmost  to  render  the  service 
therein  mentioned  effectual;  which  would,  in  the 
then  pending  instance,  be  very  advantageous  to  the 
common  cause,  and  very  acceptable  to  his  majesty." 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  JY9 

"It  TTOuld  b©  well  for  him,"  it  was  added,  « to  keep 
his  intention  of  conveying  those  vessels  as  secret  as 
possible,  lest  notice  of  it  should  be  sent  to  England, 
and  ships  placed  to  intercept  him."  Jones  has  made 
a  memorandum  on  this  passage,  which  has  been 
already  referred  to:  "I  found  our  object  in  the 
public  papers,  when  I  arrived  in  Holland  ;  and  Sir 
Joseph  Yorke  had  sent  oif  an  express  to  England, 
informing  also  that  part  of  my  business  here  would 
be  to  take  out  the  Indien.  I  was  then  under  the 
necessity  to  represent  the  want  of  secrecy  of  M. 
Chaumont  to  court,  and  to  complain  of  his  conduct 
towards  me  in  the  affair  of  the  Concordat." 

As  the  eyes  of  the  English  ministry  were  fixed 
upon  Holland,  and  there  was  no  lack  of  agents  to 
give  them  information,  that  of  M.  Chaumont  would 
seem,  at  the  present  day,  to  have  been  gratuitous. 
ISTor  was  there  any  want  of  ships  to  intercept  Jones. 
The  battle  with  the  Serapis  had  not  been  fought  in 
a  corner. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  London 
Chronicle  under  date  of  October  17th,  1779 : 

"  Amsterdam,  October  7th.— Last  Tuesday  Paul 
Jones,  with  the  prizes  Serapis  and  Scarborough, 
entered  the  Texel,  and  this  day  he  appeared  on  the 
Exchange,  where  business  gave  way  to  curiosity. 
The  crowd  pressing  upon  him,  by  whom  he  was 
styled  the  terror  of  the  English,  he  withdrew  to  a 
room  fronting  a  public  square,  where  Monsieur 
Donneville,  the  French  agent,  and  the  Americans, 


130  T^TFF.  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

paid  him  such  a  volley  of  compliments  and  such 
homage  as  he  could  only  answer  with  a  bow ;  he 
was  dressed  in  the  American  uniform,  with  a  Scotch 
bonnet  edged  with  gold  ;  is  of  a  middling  stature, 
stern  countenance,  and  swarthy  complexion.  It 
was  supposed  he  was  going  to  Paris  to  receive  the 
congratulations  of  the  Grand  Monarque  and  Dr. 
Franklin ;  but  I  am  now  informed  he  is  gone  to  the 
Hague  to  solicit  the  French  ambassador  the  repair 
of  his  shipping,  which  if  he  should  succeed  in,  he 
will  probably  elude  the  vigilance  of  a  74-gun  ship 
Avaiting  before  the  Texel." 

Immediately  on  arriving  in  the  Texel  road,  on  the 
3d  of  October,  he  addressed  an  account  of  his  cruise 
to  the  American  ambassador,  copies  of  which  were 
sent  to  the  President  of  Congress,  and  to  the  French 
minister.  The  conclusion  of  this  despatch  was  as 
follows  : 

"I  am  in  the  hio^hest  deo:ree  sensible  of  the 
singular  attention  which  I  have  experienced  from 
the  court  of  France,  which  I  shall  remember  with 
perfect  gratitude  until  the  end  of  my  life,  and  will 
always  endeavor  to  merit,  while  I  can,  consistent 
with  m}''  honor,  continue  in  the  public  service.  I 
must  speak  plainly ;  as  I  have  been  always  honored 
with  the  full  confidence  of  Congress,  and  as  I  also 
flattered  myself  with  enjoying  in  some  measure  the 
confidence  of  Monsieur  de  Chaumont,  when,  in  the 
moment  of  my  departure  from  Groix,  he  produced 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  jg^ 

a  paper,  a  concordat,  for  me  to  sign,  in  common 
with  the  officers  whom  I  had  commissioned   but  a 
few  days  before.     Had  that  paper,  or  even  a  less 
dishonorable  one,  been  proposed  to  me  at  the  be- 
ginning, I  would  have  rejected   it  with  just  con- 
tempt, and  the  word  displacement,  among  others, 
should  have  been  necessary.    I  cannot,  however,  even 
now  suppose  that  he  was  authorized  by  the  court  to 
make  such  a  bargain  with  me.     Nor  can  I  suppose 
that  the  minister  of  the  marine  meant  that  M.  de 
Chaumont  should  consider  me  merely  a  colleao-ue 
with  the  commanders  of  the  other  ships,  and  com- 
municate to  them  not  only  all  he  knew,  but  all  he 
thought,  respecting  our  destination  and  oi:>erations. 
M.  de  Chaumont  has  made  me  various  reproaches 
on  account  of  the  expense  of  the  Bonhomme  Eichard, 
wherewith  I  cannot  think  I  have  been  justly  charge- 
able.    M.  de  Chamillard  can  attest  that  the  Bon- 
homme Eichard  was  at  least  far  from  being  well 
fitted  or  armed  for  war.     If  any  person  or  persons, 
who  have  been  charged  with  the  expense  of  that  ar- 
mament have  acted  wrong,  the  fault  must  not  be  laid 
to  my  charge.     I  had  no  authority  to  superintend 
that  armament,  and  the  persons  who  had  authority 
were  so  far  from  giving  me  what  I  thought  neces- 
sary, that  M.  de  Chaumont  even  refused,  among  other 
things,  to  allow  me  irons  to  secure  the  prisoners- 
of-war. 

"  In  short,  while  my  life  remains,  if  I  have  any 
capacity  to  render  good  and  acceptable  services  to 
the  common  cause,  no  man  will  step  forth  with 


182  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

greater  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  than  myself  ;  but 
I  am  not  made  to  be  dishonored,  nor  can  I  accept 
of  the  half-confidence  of  any  man  living.  Of  course 
I  cannot,  consistent  with  my  honor,  and  a  prospect 
of  success,  undertake  future  expeditions,  unless  when 
the  object  and  destination  is  communicated  to  me 
alone,  and  to  no  other  person  in  the  marine  line. 
In  cases  where  troops  are  embarked,  a  like  confidence 
is  due  alone  to  their  commander-in-chief.  On  no 
other  condition  will  I  ever  undertake  the  chief  com- 
mand of  a  private  expedition ;  and  when  I  do  not 
command  in  chief,  I  have  no  desire  to  be  in  the 
secret. 

"  Upon  the  whole,  the  captain  of  the  Alliance  has 
behaved  so  very  ill  in  every  respect  that  I  must 
complain  loudly  of  his  conduct.  He  pretends  that 
he  is  authorized  to  act  independent  of  my  command ; 
I  have  been  taught  the  contrary ;  but,  supposing  it 
to  be  so,  his  conduct  has  been  base  and  unpardon- 
able. M.  de  Chamillard  will  explain  the  particulars. 
Either  Captain  Landais  or  myself  is  highlj^  criminal, 
and  one  or  the  other  must  be  punished.  I  forbear 
to  take  any  steps  with  him  until  I  have  the  advice 
and  approbation  of  3^our  excellency.  I  have  been 
advised  by  all  the  officers  of  the  squadron  to  put 
M.  Landais  u-nder  arrest ;  but,  as  I  have  postponed 
it  so  long,  I  will  bear  with  him  a  little  longer,  until 
the  return  of  my  express. 

"  "We  this  day  anchored  here,  having  since  the 
action  been  tossed  to  and  fro  by  contrary  winds.  I 
wished  to  have  gained  the  road  of  Dunkirk  on  ac- 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  183 

count  of  our  prisoners,  but  was  overruled  by  the 
majority  of  my  colleagues.  I  shall  hasten  up  to 
Amsterdam  and  there,  if  I  meet  with  no  orders  for 
my  government,  I  will  take  the  advice  of  the  French 
ambassador.  It  is  my  present  intention  to  have  the 
Countess  of  Scarborough  ready  to  transport  the 
prisoners  from  hence  to  Dunkirk,  unless  it  should  be 
found  more  expedient  to  deliver  them  to  the  English 
ambassador,  taking  his  obligation  to  send  to  Dun- 
kirk, etc.,  immediately  an  equal  number  of  American 
2)risoners.  I  am  under  strong  apprehensions  that 
our  object  here  will  fail,  and  that  through  the  im- 
prudence of  M.  de  Chaumont,  who  had  communi- 
cated evervthino^  he  knew  or  thouo-ht  on  the  matter, 

t/  CD  O  7 

to  persons  who  cannot  help  talking  of  it  at  a  full 
table.  This  is  the  way  he  keeps  state  secrets,  though 
he  never  mentioned  the  affair  to  me." 

Hitherto,  deeming  it  unwise  to  break  with  M. 
Chaumont,  and  feeling  that  personal  regard,  which 
supposed  grounds  for  complaint  against  its  object 
had  not  overcome,  Jones  had  not  directly  intimated 
to  him  the  charges  of  moral  weakness,  which  he  had 
made  in  his  letters  of  a  conJSdential  character.  The 
communication  of  those  charges  was  now  inevitable ; 
and  in  the  following  letter,  written  on  the  same  day 
on  which  the  account  of  the  cruise  is  dated,  it 
will  be  seen  that,  acting  on  his  impression  that  his 
correspondent's  mind  was  not  well  balanced,  he  ex- 
pressed himself  with  a  happy  mixture  of  frankness 
and  dexterity. 


184  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

"  On  Board  the  Ship-of-War  the  Serapis,  at 
Anchor  without  the  Texel,  Oct.  3,  1779. 

"  M.  LE  Ray  De  Chau]viont,  a  Passy, — 

"  The  original  of  the  enclosed  copy  of  my  last 
letter,  written  on  board  the  Bonhomme  Eichard,  off 
the  southwest  coast  of  Ireland,  the  24th  of  August, 
as  well  as  the  papers  which  preceded  it,  and  to  which 
it  alludes,  I  hope  duly  reached  the  hands  of  my  friend 
M.  de  Chaumont,  and  explained  to  his  satisfaction 
my  conduct  from  the  time  I  left  Groix  until  that 
date.  For  the  full  history  of  my  expedition,  I  must 
beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  a  letter  of  this  date,  which 
accompanies  this,  to  his  excellency  Dr.  Franklin, 
who  will,  if  you  demand  it,  furnish  you  a  copy. 

"  I  wish  to  act  a  candid  part  towards  all  men,  and 
therefore  wish  you  to  have  a  copy  of  that  letter 
that  you  may  see  my  sentiments  respecting  the 
'  concordat,'  which  you  imposed  upon  me  in  the 
moment  of  my  departure  from  Groix.  What  could 
have  inspired  you  with  such  sentiments  of  distrust 
towards  me,  after  the  ocular  proofs  of  hospitality 
which  I  so  long  experienced  in  your  house,  and 
after  the  warm  expressions  of  generous  and  un- 
bounded friendship,  which  I  had  constantly  been 
honored  with  in  your  letters,  exceeds  my  mental 
faculties  to  comprehend.  I  am,  however,  yet  will- 
ing to  give  you  an  opportunity  of  rendering  justice 
to  my  character.  I  cannot  think  you  are  personally 
my  enemy.  I  rather  imagine  that  your  conduct  to- 
wards me  at  L'Orient  has  arisen  from  the  base  mis- 


IN  THE  TEXFL.  Ig5 

representations  of  some  secret  villainy ;  therefore,  I 
am,  with  unaltered  sentiments  of  good-will  and  af- 
fection for  yourself  and  family, 
"  My  dear  friend, 

"  Your  obliged,  humble  servant." 

The  most  offensive  provision  of  the  concordat  was, 
it  may  be  presumed,  that  which  gave  the  com' 
manders  the  right  to  succeed  in  order,  in  case  of 
death  or  retreat.  Without  this  privilege,  it  :iz  not 
probable  that  they  would  have  agreed  to  sail  on  the 
projected  cruise.  But  the  independence  which  it 
made  them  feel  no  doubt  gave  rise  to  the  want  of 
subordination,  which  Jones  had  so  much  reason  to 
complain  of. 

On  the  5th  Jones  addressed  the  Duke  de  la  Yau- 
gnyon,  ambassador  of  France  at  the  Hague.  The 
return  of  his  prisoners  was  not  completed,  but  he 
rated  it  at  three  hundred  and  fifty,  of  whom  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  were  wounded.  The  total  number, 
however,  exceeded  fiYQ  hundred.  He  asked  the  ad' 
vice  of  the  ambassador,  as  to  what  measures  he  should 
adopt  in  relation  to  thera  ;  and  whether  it  would  be 
advisable  to  set  them  free  at  the  Texel,  on  such  se- 
curity as  might  be  obtained  for  the  liberation  of  an 
equal  number  of  Americans  in  England,  or  to  send 
them  to  Dunkirk  in  the  Countess  of  Scarborough, 
which  was  not  fit  for  service,  and  the  Vengeance, 
T\'hich  might  return  with  as  many  recruits  as  could 
be  obtained.  He  also  stated  his  inability  to  comply 
with  the  instructions  received  from  Franklin,  through 


Ige  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

M.  Dumas,  without  great  and  instant  assistance. 
Though  the  hull  of  the  Serapis  was  not  too  much 
damaged  to  be  easily  repaired,  she  wanted  entirely 
new  masts  and  rigging,  sails,  boats,  and  provisions. 
On  the  9th  Sir  Joseph  Yorke  sent  his  official  com- 
munication to  their  high  mightinesses,  in  relation  to 
the  presence  of  the  squadron.  As  it  is  brief,  we  in- 
sert it. 

"  High  and  Mighty  Lords, — 

"  The  undersigned,  ambassador  extraordinary  and 
plenipotentiary  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  has  the 
honor  to  communicate  to  your  high  mightinesses, 
that  two  of  his  Majesty's  ships,  the  Serapis  and  the 
Countess  of  Scarborough,  arrived  some  days  ago  in 
the  Texel,  having  been  attacked  and  taken  by  force, 
by  a  certain  Paul  Jones,  a  subject  of  the  King,  who, 
according  to  treaties  and  the  laws  of  war,  can  only 
be  considered  as  a  rebel  and  a  pirate.  The  under- 
signed is  therefore  in  duty  bound  to  recur  to  your 
high  mightinesses  and  demand  their  immediate  or- 
ders that  those  ships  with  their  officers  and  crews 
may  be  stopped,  and  he  especially  recommends  to 
your  humanity,  to  permit  the  wounded  to  be  brought 
on  shore,  that  proper  attention  may  be  paid  to  them, 
at  the  expense  of  the  King  his  master. 

"Yorke." 

"WTien  writing  to  Dr.  Franklin,  on  the  11th,  Jones 
was  not  apprised  of  this  memorial  having  been  pre- 
sented.    He  stated  that  he  was  doing  all  in  his  power 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  Ig7 

to  act  upon  the  advice  given  by  the  French  ambas> 
sador.  He  also  expressed  his  determination  to  keep 
the  captain  of  the  Serapis  in  his  hands,  as  a  hostage, 
until  Captain  Cunningham,  who  was  a  prisoner  in 
England,  should  be  released.  He  said,  "I  wish 
heartily  that  poor  Cunningham  (whom  I  am  taught 
to  regard  as  a  continental  officer)  was  exchanged ; 
as  with  his  assistance  I  could  form  a  court-martial, 
which  I  believe  you  will  see  unavoidable."  Of  Cap- 
tain Landais,  he  says :  "  He  has  come  up  here,  and 
purposes,  after  gadding  about  in  this  city,  to  figure 
away  at  the  Hague.  He  continues  to  affect  an  entire 
independence  of  my  control,  and  has  given  in  here 
an  extraordinary  demand  for  supplies  of  every  kind. 
This  famous  demand,  however,  I  have  ventured  to 
disapprove,  and  reduced  to,  I  believe,  a  fourth  part 
of  its  first  extent.  I  hope  to  account  to  your  satis- 
faction for  my  reasons ;  among  which  is  his  having 
been  so  plentifully  and  so  lately  furnished." 

The  letter  from  Franklin,  dated  on  the  15th  of 
October,  in  reply  to  the  despatches  of  Jones,  dated 
the  3d,  was  as  follows,  and  must  have  been  so  grati- 
fying to  him  who  received  it  that  it  needs  no  com- 
mentary ;  but  every  line,  including  the  postscript,  is 
worthy  of  attention  : 

"  I  received  the  account  of  vour  cruise  and  eno:a2:e- 
ment  with  the  Serapis,  which  you  did  me  the  honor 
to  send  me  from  the  Texel.  I  have  since  received 
yowY  favor  of  the  8th  from  Amsterdam.  For  some 
days  after  the  arrival  of  your  express,  scarce  any- 


188  LIFE  OP  PAUL  JONES. 

thing  was  talked  of  at  Paris  and  Versailles  but  jour 
cool  conduct  and  persevering  bravery  during  that 
terrible  conflict.  You  may  believe  that  the  impres- 
sion on  my  mind  was  not  less  strong  than  that  of 
others ;  but  I  do  not  choose  to  say  in  a  letter  to 
yourself  all  I  think  on  such  an  occasion. 

"  The  ministry  are  much  dissatisfied  with  Captain 
Landais,  and  Monsieur  de  Sartine  has  signified  to 
me  in  writing  that  it  is  expected  that  I  should  send 
for  him  to  Paris,  and  call  him  to  account  for  his 
conduct,  particularly  for  deferring  so  long  his  com- 
ing to  your  assistance ;  by  which  means,  it  is  sup- 
posed, the  States  lost  some  of  their  valuable  citizens, 
and  the  King  lost  many  of  his  subjects,  volunteers  in 
your  ship,  together  with  the  ship  itself. 

"  I  have,  accordingly,  written  to  him  this  day, 
acquainting  him,  that  he  is  charged  with  disobe- 
dience of  orders  in  the  cruise,  and  neglect  of  his 
duty  in  the  engagement ;  that  a  court-martial  being 
at  this  time  inconvenient,  if  not  impracticable,  I 
would  give  him  an  earlier  opportunity  of  offering 
what  he  has  to  say  in  his  justification,  and  for  that 
purpose  direct  him  to  render  himself  immediately 
here,  bringing  with  him  such  papers  or  testimonies 
as  he  may  think  useful  in  his  defense.  I  know  not 
whether  he  will  obey  my  orders,  nor  what  the 
ministry  would  do  with  him  if  he  comes ;  but  I 
suspect  that  they  may,  by  some  of  their  concise  oper- 
ations, save  the  trouble  of  a  court  martial.  It  will, 
however,  be  well  for  yon  to  furnish  me  with  what 
you  may  judge  proper  to  support  the  charges  against 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  1S9 

him,  that  I  may  be  able  to  give  a  just  and  clear 
account  to  Congress.  In  the  meantime  it  will 
be  necessary,  if  he  should  refuse  to  come,  that  you 
should  put  him  under  an  arrest ;  and  in  that  case, 
as  well  as  if  he  comes,  that  you  should  either  appoint 
some  person  to  the  command,  or  take  it  upon  your- 
self;  for  I  know  of  no  person  to  recommend  to  j^ou 
as  fit  for  that  station. 

"  I  am  uneasy  about  your  prisoners  (504  in  num- 
ber), I  wish  they  were  safe  in  France.  You  will 
then  have  completed  the  glorious  work  of  giving 
liberty  to  all  the  Americans  that  have  so  long  lan- 
guished for  it  in  the  British  prisons ;  for  there  are 
not  so  many  there,  as  you  have  now  taken. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  two 
prizes  sent  to  Norway  are  safely  arrived  at  Bergen. 
"  With  the  highest  esteem,  I  am,  etc. 

"B.  Feanklin. 

"  P.  S.  I  am  sorr3r  for  your  misunderstanding 
with  M.  de  C.  who  has  a  great  regard  for  you." 

From  the  contents  of  a  note  from  Captain  Pearson 
to  Jones,  written  on  the  19th  of  this  month,  it  is  to 
be  inferred  that  the  former  was  not  apprised  of  the 
application  made  by  Sir  Joseph  Torke  to  their  high 
mightinesses ;  or,  at  least,  of  its  terms  and  tenor. 
He  charged  Jones  very  plainly  with  a  breach  of  the 
civility  due  to  his  rank,  as  well  as  his  behavior  on 
all  occasions,  and  expressed  his  opinion  that  the 
detention  of  himself  and  his  people  on  board  ship 
for  so  long  a  time  w^as  an   unprecedented   thing. 


190  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Jones  informed  him  that  the  memorial  of  Sir  Joseph, 
of  which  he  enclosed  him  a  copy,  had  induced  him 
to  think  it  fruitless  to  pursue  negotiations  for  the 
exchange  of  prisoners  ;  but  that  humanity  had  made 
him  seek  for  permission  to  land  the  dangerously 
wounded.  The  consent  of  the  government  had  been 
obtained,  but  the  local  magistrates  still  raised  objec- 
tions. His  reply  was  couched  in  terms  of  moder- 
ation, highly  commendable,  if  we  consider  the  epi- 
thets which  the  English  ambassador  had  applied  to 
him,  and  the  bold,  blunt  style  of  Pearson's  note. 
The  resolutions  of  their  high  mightinesses  upon  the 
application  of  the  English  ambassador  was  delivered 
to  him  on  the  25th.  It  was  prudently  worded, 
setting  forth  that,  for  a  century,  the  States-General 
had  strictly  observed  it  as  a  maxim,  never  to  pre- 
tend to  judge  of  the  legality  or  illegality  of  captures 
of  vessels  brought  into  the  ports  of  the  republic 
not  belonging  to  it ;  that  they  only  opened  their 
ports  to  give  shelter  to  those  making  such  captures, 
from  storms  or  disasters,  and  obliged  them  to  put  to 
sea  again  without  unloading;  that  they  were  not 
authorized  to  pass  judgment  upon  either  the  prizes 
or  the  person  of  Paul  Jones ;  and  that  they  had 
already  evinced  their  willingness  to  discharge  the 
offices  of  humanity,  b}^  the  orders  they  had  given 
in  relation  to  the  wounded  prisoners. 

Sir  Joseph  Yorke,  from  his  long  residence  at  the 
Hague,  had  obtained  great  influence  over  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  and  what  might  be  called  the  court  party, 
as  those  opposed  to  English  dictation  were  termed 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  191 

the  French  party.  He  was  rewarded  afterwards 
with  a  peerage  for  his  services  as  a  minister.  He 
was  far  from  being  satisfied  with  the  negative  pro- 
tection yielded  by  the  States-General  to  "  the  pirate 
Paul  Jones,"  as  he  again  called  him  in  a  memorial 
presented  on  the  29th.  In  this  communication, 
after  thanking  their  high  mightinesses  for  their 
orders  in  relation  to  the  wounded,  he  added : 
"  I  cannot  but  comply  with  the  strict  orders  of  his 
majesty,  by  renewing  in  the  strongest  and  most 
pressing  manner  his  request,  that  these  ships  and 
their  crews  may  be  stopped  and  delivered  up,  which 
the  pirate  Paul  Jones,  of  Scotland,  who  is  a  rebel 
subject  and  a  criminal  of  the  state,  has  taken." 

The  States  replied  as  before  that  they  would  not 
pass  judgment  on  the  legality  of  the  captures,  and 
would  act  under  the  terms  of  their  placard.  In  pur- 
suance of  their  resolution,  and  of  an  order  from  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  Jones  prepared  to  remove  the 
wounded  to  the  fort  on  the  Texel ;  having  permission 
to  place  sentinels  to  guard  them,  to  raise  the  draw- 
bridge at  his  pleasure,  and  remove  his  prisoners  if  he 
saw  fit.  On  the  31st  an  agreement  was  entered  into 
between  Jones  and  Pearson,  agreeably  to  these 
arrangements. 

On  behalf  of  his  government.  Captain  Pearson 
agreed  that  all  British  prisoners  so  landed  should 
be  considered  prisoners-of-war  until  exchanged  ; 
and,  in  case  any  of  them  should  desert,  he  engaged 
that  an  equal  number  of  American  prisoners  should 
be  released  in  England  and  sent  to  France  by  tha 


192  Llf  E  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

next  cartel.  In  cases  of  death,  Jones  stipulated  not 
to  claim  an  exchange. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  Jones  gave  his  formal 
orders  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weibers,  appointing 
him  governor-general  over  the  wounded  and  the 
soldiers  who  were  to  conduct  them  on  shore,  and 
directing  him  to  take  care  that  no  cause  of  complaint 
should  be  given  to  the  Dutch  government  or  its 
subjects. 

On  the  28th  of  October  Jones  wrote  to  La- 
fayette, and  the  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
letter : 

"  I  wish  to  answer  very  particularly  the  three 
points  which  you  have  propounded.  1st,  I  never 
meant  to  ask  a  reward  for  my  services,  either  from 
France  or  America;  consequently  the  approbation 
of  the  cou]*t  and  of  Congress  is  all  the  gratification 
I  can  wish  for.  2dly,  1  yet  intend  to  undertake 
Avhatever  the  utmost  exertion  of  my  abilities  Avill 
reach  in  support  of  the  common  cause,  as  far  as  any 
force  that  may  in  future  be  intrusted  to  my  direction 
may  enable  me  to  succeed  ;  I  hope,  however,  my 
future  force  will  be  better  composed  than  when  I 
sailed  from  L'Orient.  1  must  sail  from  the  Texel 
in  course  of  next  month,  because  ships  cannot  after- 
ward remain  here  in  this  road.  My  destination  or 
route  from  hence  I  yet  know  not ;  but  I  need  not 
tell  you  that  I  wish  to  see  your  face  !  3dly,  It  is 
now  in  vain  to  sav  what  mioht  have  been  done  two 
years  ago  with  the  force  you  mention ;  but  I  believe, 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  193 

if  properly  supported  by  sea,  such  a  force  might  yet 
perform  very  essential  service.  There  is  no  guard- 
ing, you  know,  against  storms ;  and  one  would  wish 
either  to  avoid  or  to  outsail  a  superior  sea  force. 
As  I  believe  you  know  my  way  of  thinking  on  such 
subjects,  I  shall  offer  you  no  argument.  I  know 
you  want  no  prompter." 

Charges  against  Landais  were  drawn  up  by  the 
officers  of  the  squadron  on  the  30th  of  October,  and 
attested  by  them.  They  were  twenty -five  in  num- 
ber, and  have  already  been  suificiently  adverted  to. 
The  last  was  that,  in  coming  into  the  Texel,  Landais 
declared  that,  if  Captain  Jones  should  hoist  a  broad 
pendant,  he  would,  to  vex  him,  hoist  another. 

The  nature  of  the  embarrassments  with  which 
Jones  was  beset  at  this  time  will  best  appear  from 
his  own  accounts.  He  says  briefly,  in  his  Journal, 
that  "  with  the  most  indefatigable  attention  and 
industr}'^,  gales  of  wind  and  other  circumstances 
prevented  him  from  having  the  Serapis  remasted, 
and  the  squadron  ready  to  sail,  before  the  middle 
of  November."  On  the  4th  of  that  month  he  thus 
wrote  to  the  French  ambassador : 

"  My  Lord, — 

"  This  morning,  the  commandant  of  the  road  sent 
me  word  to  come  and  speak  to  him  on  board  his 
ship.  He  had  before  him  on  the  table  a  letter, 
which,  he  said,  was  from  the  Prince  of  Orange.  He 
questioned  me  very  closely  whether  I  had  a  French 
»3 


194  l^FE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

commission,  and  if  I  had,  he  almost  insisted  npon 
seeincr  it.  In  conformity  to  vour  advice  I  told  him 
that  my  French  commission  not  having  been  found 
among  my  papers  since  the  loss  of  the  Bonhomme 
Richard,  I  feared  it  had  gone  to  the  bottom  in  that 
ship ;  but  that,  if  it  was  really  lost,  it  -^vould  be  an 
easy  matter  to  procure  a  duplicate  from  France. 
The  commandant  appeared  to  be  very  uneasy  and 
anxious  for  my  departure.  I  have  told  him  that,  as 
there  are  eight  of  the  enemy's  ships  lying  in  wait 
for  me  at  the  south  entrance,  and  four  more  at  the 
north  entrance,  of  the  port,  I  was  unable  to  fight 
more  than  three  times  my  force ;  but  that  he  might 
rest  assured  of  my  intention  to  depart  with  the 
utmost  expedition,  whenever  I  found  a  possibility 
to  go  clear. 

"  I  should  be  very  happy,  my  lord,  if  I  could  tell 
you  of  my  being  ready.  I  should  have  departed 
long:  aofo,  if  I  had  met  with  common  assistance ;  but 
for  a  fortnight  past  I  have  every  day  expected  the 
necessary  supply  of  water  from  Amsterdam  in  cis- 
terns, and  I  am  last  night  informed  that  it  cannot 
be  had  without  I  send  up  water  casks.  The  pro- 
vision, too,  that  was  ordered  the  day  I  returned  to 
Amsterdam  from  the  Hague,  is  not  yet  sent  down ; 
and  the  spars  that  have  been  sent  from  Amsterdam 
are  spoiled  in  the  making.  None  of  the  ironwork 
that  was  ordered  for  the  Serapis  is  yet  completed, 
so  that  I  am,  even  at  this  hour,  in  want  of  hinges 
to  hang  the  lower  gun  ports.  My  officers  and  men 
lost    their    clothes    and   beds  in  the    Bonhomme 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  195 

Richard,  and  they  have  yet  got  no  supply.  The 
bread  that  has  been  twice  a  week  sent  down  from 
Amsterdam  to  feed  my  people  has  been,  literally 
speaking,  rotten,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  they 
are  falling  sick. 

"It  is  natural  also  that  they  should  be  discon- 
tented, while  I  am  not  able  to  tell  them  that  they 
will  be  paid  the  value  of  their  property  in  the 
Serapis  and  the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  if  either 
or  both  of  them  should  be  lost  or  taken  after  sailing 
from  hence. 

"  Thus  3^ou  see,  my  lord,  that  my  prospects  are  far 
from  pleasing.  I  have  but  few  men,  and  they  are 
discontented.  If  you  can  authorize  me  to  promise 
them,  at  all  hazards,  that  their  property  in  the 
prizes  shall  be  made  good,  and  that  they  shall  re- 
ceive the  necessary  clothing  and  bedding,  etc.,  or 
money  to  buy  them,  I  believe  I  shall  soon  be  able 
to  bring  them  again  into  a  good  humor.  In  the 
meantime,  I  will  send  a  vessel  or  two  out  to  recon- 
noiter  the  oflBng,  and  to  bring  me  word.  Whatever 
may  be  the  consequence  of  my  having  put  into  this 
harbor,  I  must  observe  that  it  w\as  done  contrary 
to  my  opinion ;  and  I  consented  to  it  only  because 
the  majority  of  my  colleagues  were  earnest  for  it." 

M.  de  Sartine  had  determined  upon  a  measure 
which  prevented  Jones  from  immediately  attempt- 
ing an  escape,  and  from  carrying  out,  under  the  flag 
to  which  she  had  stuck,  the  dearW-bought  Serapis. 
On  the  6th  of  November  that  minister  thus  briefly 


19^  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

wrote  to  Dr.  Franklin :  "  Circumstances  require  that 
the  expedition  of  the  squadron,  under  the  orders  of 
Mr.  Jones,  should  terminate  at  the  Texel.  It  seems 
indispensable  to  give  a  new  destination  to  the  differ- 
ent ships  which  compose  it.  You  are  at  liberty,  sir, 
to  dispose  of  the  American  frigate,  the  Alliance,  ac- 
cording to  the  views  you  may  entertain  in  relation 
to  the  service  of  the  United  States.  I  pray  you 
only  to  observe  to  Mr.  Jones,  or  any  other  officer 
to  whom  you  may  intrust  the  command,  that  he 
must  not  have  any  subject  of  the  king  on  board  of 
that  frigate."  The  minister  had  resolved  to  adopt 
the  shortest  course  in  relation  to  the  vessels  which 
were  the  property  of  France,  and  probably  had  no 
doubt  that  Jones  would  be  willing  to  accept  a  com- 
mission from  that  government,  to  extricate  himself 
from  his  now  solitary  and  dangerous  position.  He 
was  mistaken. 

In  communicating  a  copy  of  this  note  to  Jones, 
Franklin  observed  that  the  injunction  as  to  the 
king's  subjects  might  extend  to  Landais,  who  had 
not  yet  arrived.  He  remarked :  *'  I  suppose  you 
will  learn  the  intentions  of  the  minister,  relative  to 
the  disposition  of  the  prizes,  from  the  ambassador ; 
and  that  you  will  go  on  board  the  Alliance  yourself. 
I  am  anxious  that  the  prisoners  should  be  safely 
lodged  in  France,  and  should  earnestly'  recommend 
that  matter  to  your  attention  if  I  did  not  know  that 
you  desire,  as  much  as  I  do,  the  exchange  of  our 
poor  countrymen." 

While  these  unpleasant  documents  were  on  their 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  I97 

way,  the  Dutch  vice-admiral  had  on  the  same  day 
given  him  notice  that  he  was  expected  to  sail  with 
the  first  fair  wind.  This  officer,  named  Eeynst,  had 
been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Dutch  fleet, 
consisting  of  thirteen  men-of-war,  by  the  Prince  of 
Orange.  Mr.  Eimersina,  a  friend  of  America,  and 
wlio  had  treated  the  squadron  with  every  civility, 
was  removed  from  that  command. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  Duke  de  Yauguyon  in- 
formed M.  Dumas,  that  the  States  of  Holland  had 
come  to  the  conclusion,  by  a  pluralit}^  of  votes,  to 
constrain  Jones  to  depart,  and  directed  him  to  re- 
pair forthwith  to  the  Texel,  and  made  the  necessary 
arrangements.  On  the  19th,  the  States-General  re- 
solved that  they  would  persist  in  maintaining  their 
ancient  maxim,  not  to  decide  upon  the  legality 
of  captures  under  foreign  flags,  which  maxim,  they 
added,  was  even  founded  upon  treaties ;  but  that 
they  had  already  given  evident  proof  of  their  not 
wishing  to  render  any  aid  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
British  colonies  in  America,  by  giving  orders  that 
Jones  should  be  furnished  with  no  munitions  of  w' ar 
or  other  articles,  other  than  were  necessary  to  enable 
him  to  make  the  nearest  port ;  and  that,  in  case  of 
recessit}^  they  would  even  constrain  him  to  sail,  as 
soon  as  his  vessels  could  keep  the  sea,  and  the  wind 
permitted.  They  repeated  an  express  disavowal  of 
their  intending,  by  any  implication,  to  recognize  the 
independence  of  the  Colonies.  And  they  directed 
the  Admiralty  college  at  Amsterdam  to  advise 
Jones,  that  the  approaching  season  of  winter  would 


X9S  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

make  his  departure  inconvenient ;  to  avoid  which, 
it  was  necessary  that  he  should  let  no  opportunity 
escape  of  putting  to  sea  ;  "  that  such  was  the  serious 
intention  of  their  high  mightinesses,  and  they  could 
not  expect  that  by  opposing  it,  he  would  oblige 
them  to  take  measures  which  would  be  disagree- 
able to  him." 

M.  Dumas  relates,  that  he  repaired  to  the  Texel 
on  the  18th,  and  that  the  arrangements  made  neces- 
sary by  the  orders  of  Sartine  and  Franklin,  were 
prosecuted  during  the  ten  following  days ;  the  vice- 
admiral  giving  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  particularly 
after  receiving  his  instructions  founded  on  the 
resolutions  of  the  States-General.  Though  the 
wind  was  contrar}^,  he  was  unremitting  in  his 
urgency  and  even  threats  of  violence. 

On  the  2ith,  his  captain  en  second  visited  the 
squadron  and  read  aloud  a  paper,  which  he  then  re- 
turned to  his  pocket.  M.  Dumas,  foreseeing,  as  he 
says,  the  contents,  had  prepared  a  reply  ;  demand- 
ing, in  future,  copies  of  all  orders  and  menaces,  in 
order  that  they  might  be  transmitted  to  Congress 
and  to  Dr.  Franklin. 

To  another  pressing  message  on  the  28th,  M.  Du- 
mas caused  an  answer  to  be  given,  ^'  in  a  high  voice, 
before  all  the  crews  and  the  rowers  of  the  boat 
which  brought  the  messenger,  that  the  vice-admiral 
exacted  impossibilities."  This  declaration  he  made 
the  pilot  sign,  and  they  were  then  left  undisturbed 
for  ten  days. 

Jones  had  indeed  made  up  his  mind  to  comply 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  I99 

with  the  triple  requisitions  of  France,  Dr.  Franklin, 
and  the  States- General.  The  order  Franklin  found 
it  necessary  to  grant,  involved  the  delivery  of  the 
prisoners  to  the  French  ambassador.  The  Serapis 
and  Countess  of  Scarborough  were  also  taken  from 
under  Jones'  orders.  It  was  not  without  a  pang  that 
he  resigned  the  command  of  the  former  vessel ; 
which  had  recently  cost  the  British  government  a 
large  sum  of  money,  was  a  new  ship,  and  sufficient- 
ly refitted  for  sea.  He  found  it  imperatively  nec- 
essary to  remove  to  the  Alliance,  on  board  of  which 
alone  the  American  flag  was  now  flying. 

The  Alliance  had  not  a  good  cable  or  sail ;  the 
officers  and  men  were  intemperate  and  idle  ;  filth, 
insubordination,  and  epidemical  diseases,  prevailed 
among  the  crew ;  she  was  badly  supplied  with  small 
arms,  and  her  powder  was  of  bad  quality.  The 
latter  wants  Jones  was,  however,  enabled  to  supply, 
from  the  superfluous  number  of  small  arms  found 
on  board  the  Serapis,  and  the  powder  which  had 
been  transferred  to  the  Pallas  from  the  Bonhomme 
Richard,  when  the  latter  ship  was  on  fire,  the  morn- 
ing after  the  action.  He  also  had  two  cables,  pro- 
cured for  the  Serapis  at  Amsterdam  ;  without  which 
the  Alliance  would  have  been  lost  in  the  gales  that 
prevailed  at  the  Texel,  before  she  sailed  from  thence, 
when  all  her  other  cables  broke. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  meditating  his  departure 
at  all  hazards,  whenever  the  wind  should  serve 
(which,  however,  it  did  not  until  the  27th),  we  find 
Jones  returning  his  thanks  to  Captain  Rimersina  for 


200  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

his  personal  civilities,  and  the  attention  shown  to 
the  American  flag,  while  he  had  commanded  in  the 
road. 

The  final  arrangement  adopted  in  relation  to  the 
prisoners,  by  the  express  wish  of  his  majesty  the 
King  of  France,  was,  that  they  should  be  exchanged 
for  French  prisoners  at  the  Texel ;  France  giving 
the  same  number  in  France,  to  exchan":e  against 
the  Americans  in  England.  This  was  efl'ected  with 
a  great  deal  of  dilBculty.  The  hundred  of  whom 
Jones  speaks,  in  the  letter  to  Franklin  last  quoted 
from,  were  the  sick  and  wounded  who  had  been 
landed  at  the  Fort,  and  whom  he  persevered  in  re- 
taining, under  his  express  agreement  with  Captain 
Pearson. 

A  proposition  to  give  Jones  a  French  commission 
was  now  made  by  direction  of  M.  de  la  Sartine, 
and  communicated  bv  the  ambassador,  which  ex- 
cited  the  indignation  of  Jones  in  no  small  degree  ; 
and  it  will  not  be  thought,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances, that  he  expressed  it  in  language,  either  too 
strong  or  not  sufficiently  respectful.  He  thus  ad- 
dressed the  French  ambasssador,  on  the  13th  of 
December : 

"  My  Lord, — 

"  Perhaps  there  are  many  men  in  the  world  who 
would  esteem  as  an  honor  the  commission  that  I 
have  this  day  refused.  My  rank  from  the  begin- 
ning knew  no  superior  in  the  marine  of  America ; 
how  then  must  I  be  humbled  were  I  to  accept  a 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  201 

letter  of  marque !  I  should,  my  lord,  esteem  my- 
self inexcusable,  were  I  to  accept  even  a  commis- 
sion of  equal  denomination  to  that  I  bear,  unless  I 
were  previously  authorized  by  Congress,  or  some 
other  competent  authority  in  Europe.  And  I  must 
tell  you,  that  on  my  arrival  at  Brest  from  the  Irish 
Channel,  Count  d'Orvilliers  offered  to  procure  for 
me  from  court,  a  commission  of  '  Captaine  de 
Yaisseau,'  which  I  did  not  then  accept  for  the  same 
reason,  although  the  war  between  France  and 
England  was  not  then  begun,  and  of  course  the 
commission  of  France  would  have  protected  me 
from  an  enemy  of  superior  force. 

*'  It  is  a  matter  of  the  highest  astonishment  to 
me  that,  after  so  many  compliments  and  fair  pro- 
fessions, the  court  should  offer  the  present  insult  to 
my  understanding,  and  suppose  me  capable  of  dis- 
gracing my  present  commission.  I  confess  that  I 
never  merited  all  the  praise  bestowed  on  my  past 
conduct,  but  I  also  feel  that  I  have  far  less  merited 
such  a  reward.  "Where  profession  and  practise 
are  so  opposite,  I  am  no  longer  weak  enough  to 
form  a  Avrong  conclusion.  They  may  think  as  they 
please  of  me;  for  where  I  cannot  continue  my 
esteem,  praise  or  censure  from  any  man  is  to  me  a 
matter  of  indifference. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  them,  however,  for  hav- 
ing at  last  fairly  opened  my  eyes,  and  enabled  me 
to  discover  truth  from  falsehood. 

*'The  prisoners  shall  be  delivered  agreeable  to 
the  orders  which  you  have  done  me  the  honor  to 


202  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

send  to  me,  from  his  excellency  the  American  am- 
bassador in  France. 

"I  will  also  with  great  pleasure,  not  only  permit 
a  part  of  my  seamen  to  go  on  board  the  ships  under 
your  excellency- s  orders,  but  I  will  also  do  my 
utmost  to  prevail  with  them  to  embark  freely  ;  and 
if  I  can  now  or  hereafter,  by  any  other  honorable 
means,  facilitate  the  success  or  the  honor  of  his 
majesty's  arms,  I  pledge  myself  to  you  as  his  am- 
bassador, that  none  of  his  own  subjects  would  bleed 
in  his  cause  with  greater  freedom  than  myself,  an 
American. 

"  It  gives  me  more  pain,  my  lord,  to  write  this 
letter,  because  the  court  has  enjoined  you  to  pre- 
pare what  would  destroy  my  peace  of  mind,  and 
my  future  veracity  in  the  opinion  of  the  world. 

"  When,  with  the  consent  of  court  and  by  order 
of  the  American  ambassador,  I  gave  American 
commissions  to  French  officers,  I  did  not  fill  up 
those  commissions  to  command  privateers,  nor  even 
for  a  rank  equal  to  that  of  their  commissions  in  the 
marine  of  France.  They  were  promoted  to  rank 
far  superior ;  and  why  ?  not  from  personal  friend- 
ship, nor  from  any  knowledge  of  their  services  and 
abilities  (the  men  and  their  characters  being  entire 
strangers  to  me),  but  from  the  respect  which  I  be- 
lieved America  would  wish  to  show  for  the  service 
of  France. 

"  "While  I  remained  eight  months  seemingly  for- 
got by  the  court  at  Brest,  many  commissions,  such 
fts  that  in   question  were    offered    to   me;    and   I 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  203 

believe  (when  I  am  in  pursuit  of  plunder)  I  can 
still  obtain  such  an  one  without  application  to 
court. 

"  I  hope,  my  lord,  that  my  behavior  through  life 
will  ever  entitle  me  to  the  continuance  of  your 
good  wishes  and  opinion,  and  that  you  Avill  take 
occasion  to  make  mention  of  the  warm  and  per- 
sonal affection  with  which  my  heart  is  impressed 
towards  his  majesty. 

"  I  am,  etc.,  etc.,  etc." 

To  Franklin,  to  whom  he  inclosed  a  copy  of  this 
letter,  he  broke  out  in  terms  less  constrained. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  the  wind  serving,  he 
set  sail  from  the  Texel,  leaving,  to  use  the  musty 
proverb,  the  frying-pan,  in  which  he  had  been  so 
long  kept  hot,  at  the  risk  of  encountering  the  fire, 
with  which  the  English  cruisers  would  have  been 
well  pleased  to  have  favored  him.  From  the  Alli- 
ance, at  sea,  he  wrote  on  this  day  to  M.  Dumas : 

"  I  am  here,  my  dear  sir,  with  a  good  wind  at 
east,  and  under  my  best  American  colors — so  far 
you  have  your  wish.  "What  may  be  the  event  of 
this  critical  moment  I  know  not ;  I  am  not,  how- 
ever,  without  good  hopes.  Through  the  ignorance 
or  drunkenness  of  the  old  pilot,  the  Alliance  last 
night  got  foul  of  a  Dutch  merchant  ship,  and  T  be- 
lieve the  Dutchman  cut  our  cable.  We  lost  the 
best  bower  anchor,  and  the  ship  was  brought  up 
with  the  sheet  anchor  so  near  the  shore  that  this 


204  LIFE  OF  PAUL  J0NE3. 

morning  I  have  been  obliged  to  cut  the  cable  in 
order  to  get  clear  of  the  shore,  and  that  I  might 
not  lose  this  opportunity  of  escaping  from  pur- 
gatory." 

His  Journal  for  the  king  contains  the  following 
account  of  this  nice  and  successful  operation  of 
seamanship  :  "  He  passed,"  he  states,  "  along  the 
Flemish  banks,  and,  getting  to  windward  of  the 
enemy's  fleets  of  observation  in  the  North  Sea,  he 
the  next  day  passed  through  the  Straits  of  Dover, 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  fleet  in  the  Downs.  The 
day  following  Captain  Jones  ran  the  Alliance  past 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  view  of  the  enemy's  fleet  at 
Spithead,  and  in  two  days  more  got  safe  through 
the  Channel,  having  passed  by  windward  in  sight 
of  several  of  the  enemy's  large  two-decked  cruising 
ships. 

"  Captain  Jones  wished  to  carry  with  him  some 
prizes  and  prisoners  to  France;  but  the  Alliance,  by 
the  arrangement  Captain  Landais  had  made  of  her 
ballast  at  L' Orient,  Tvas  out  of  trim,  and  could 
not  sail  fast,  her  sails  being  too  thin  and  old  for 
cold  latitudes.  He  steered  to  the  southward,  and 
cruised  for  some  days  w^ithout  success  off  Cape 
Finisterre. 

"  On  the  16th  of  January,  1780,  Captain  Jones,  to 
shun  a  gale  of  wind  and  procure  a  sound  anchor 
(for  he  had  left  the  Texel  with  only  one),  ran  into 
Corogne,    He  "was  very  kindly  received  in  Spain, 


IN  THE  TEXEL.  JO5 

but  sailed  again,  and  arrived  at  Groix  on  the  10th 
of  February,  having  taken  no  prizes ;  but  met  with 
and  conducted  in  the  American  merchant  ship 
Livingston,  with  a  large  cargo  of  tobacco,  from 
Virginia  for  Bordeaux." 


206  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE    ALLIANCE    FRIGATE. 

From  the  fatigues  Jones  had  undergone,  his  health 
was  impaired,  and  when  he  anchored  at  Groix,  he 
was  almost  blind  from  the  soreness  of  his  eyes.  He 
went  up  to  L'Orient  for  a  change  of  air,  whence  he 
addressed  Franklin  on  the  13th  of  February. 

His  first  object  was  to  repair  the  Alliance ;  and 
he  set  about  his  preparations  for  that  business  with 
a  zeal,  and  on  a  scale,  which  the  economical  Frank- 
lin in  vain  endeavored  to  control  and  reduce.  The 
cutwater  of  that  vessel  had  been  wrenched  out  of 
its  place,  and  her  trim  could  not  be  regained  with- 
out altering  the  arrangement  of  the  ballast,  which, 
Jones  says,  he  understood  "  Captain  Landais  had 
extended  along  the  ceiling  from  the  stem  post  to 
the  stern ;  an  idea  that  I  believe  he  may  without 
vanity  call  his  own." 

Jones  had  ordered  canvas  and  cordage  from  Am- 
sterdam. He  also  proposed  to  sheathe  the  bottom 
with  copper,  if  it  could  be  afforded.  The  other 
ships  left  in  the  Texel  road  had  arrived  in  France, 
the  Dutch  fleet  giving  them  convoy.  The  Serapis 
was  at  L'Orient,  and  her  conqueror  wished  she  could 
be  made  the  property  of  America.     The  Countess 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  207 

of  Scarborough  was  at  Dunkirk.  The  American 
minister  found  himself  compelled  to  use  thelangua"-e 
of  supplication.  °     ° 

"As  to  refitting  your  ship  at  the  expense  of  this 
court,"  he  said,  "  I  must  acquaint  you  that  there  is 
not  the  least  probability  of  obtaining  it,  and  there- 
fore I  cannot  ask  it.     I  hear  too  much  already  of 
the  extraordinary  expense  you  made  in  Holland,  to 
thmk  of  proposing  an  addition  to  it,  especially,  as 
you  seem  to  impute  the  damage  she  has  sustained 
more  to  Captain  Landais'  negligence  than  to  acci- 
dents of  the  cruise.     The  whole  expense  will,  there- 
fore, fall  upon  me,  and  I  am  ill  provided  to  bear  it 
havmg  so  many  unexpected  calls  upon  me  from  all 
quarters.     I,  therefore,  beg  you  would  have  mercy 
on  me,  put  me  to  as  little  charge  as  possible,  and 
take  nothmg  you  can  possibly  do  without.     As  to 
sheathing  with  copper,  it  is  totally  out  of  the  ques- 
tion     I  am  not  authorized  to  do  it,  if  I  had  money  • 
and  I  hare  not  money  for  it,  if  I  had  orders.     The 
purchase  of  the  Serapis  is  in  the  same  predicament 
1    believe  the  sending  canvas  and   cordage  from 
Amsterdam  has  already  been  forbidden ;  if  not  I 
shall  forbid  it     I  approve  of  your  applying  to 
Messrs  Gourlade  and  Moylan  for  what  repairs  you 
want,  havmg  an  exceeding  good  opinion  of  those 
gentlemen  ;  but  let  me  repeat  it,  for  God's  sake  be 
sparing,  unless  you  mean  to  make  me  a  bankrupt 
or  have  your  drafts  dishonored,  for  want  of  money 
m  my  hands  to  pay  them." 


208  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

To  this  earnest  exhortation,  Jones  said  in  reply, 
"  I  feel  your  reasons  for  urging  frugality ;  and  as  I 
have  not  hitherto  been  among  the  most  extravagant 
servants  of  America,  so  you  may  depend  upon  it, 
my  regard  for  you.  will  make  me  particularly  nice 
in  my  present  situation."  In  his  answer  to  ques- 
tions subsequently  proposed  by  the  American  Board 
of  Admiralty,  which  had  now  been  established, 
Jones  gives  a  truly  deplorable  account  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  Alliance,  which,  on  being  thoroughly 
examined,  proved  deficient  and  inconvenient  in  its 
original  construction,  and  altogether  ill  contrived. 
The  essential  repairs  were  finished  by  the  middle  of 
April,  by  the  crew  of  the  ship  and  four  or  five 
American  carpenters.  The  materials  of  the  old 
arrangement  nearly  sufficed  to  finish  the  new. 

Jones  says:  "Judges  allowed  that,  when  the  busi- 
ness was  finished,  everything  about  that  frigate  was 
perfect.  I  know  not  what  was  the  amount  of  the 
disbursements."  In  his  Journal  for  the  king  he 
says  :  "  She  was  thought  one  of  the  completest  frig- 
ates in  France." 

It  was  Franklin's  intention  to  send  the  Alliance 
back  as  soon  as  she  should  be  in  condition  to  make 
the  voyage.  Jones  would  not  have  opposed  this 
purpose ;  though  it  may  fairly  be  supposed  that  the 
interest  he  took  in  the  disposition  which  might  be 
made  of  his  prizes  did  not  make  him  anxious  to  ex- 
pedite his  departure  while  this  was  uncertain,  and 
his  crew  were  without  either  wages  or  prize  money. 
"We  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  he  made  any  un* 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  209 

necessary  delay,  when  the  thorough  repairs  the  Alli- 
ance underwent  are  considered. 

Four  gentlemen,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Arthur  Lee 
were  desirous  of  coming  out  to  America  by  that  op! 
portunity,  and  Jones  had  promised  to  "  pa\^  the  most 
cheerful  regard  to  their  accommodation."  Frank- 
lin  also  wished  to  send  to  the  United  States  large 
supplies  of  arms  and  clothing  (15,000  stand  of  good 
arms,  and  120  bales  of  public  cloth),  of  which  Jones 
said,  "  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  cram  a  great  part,  if 
not  the  whole,  into  the  Alliance."  This  could  not 
have  been  done  with  any  convenience,  Avithout  a 
material  change  in  the  arrangement  of  the  ship. 

On  the   1st  of  March   Franklin  wrote  that  M. 
Sartine  desired  a  place  for  another  passenger,  and 
expressed  a  wish  that  room  should   be  made  for 
Mr.  Brown  of  South  Carolina.    He  added  :    "  Captain 
Landais  has  demanded  of  me  an  order  to  you,  to 
deliver  him  his  trunks  and  things  that  were  left  on 
board  the  Alliance.     I  find  him  so  exceedingly  cap- 
tious and  critical,  and  so  apt  to  misconstrue  as  an 
intended  injustice  every  expression  in  a  language 
which  he  does  not  immediately  understand,  that  I 
am  tired  of  writing  anything  for  him  or  about  him, 
and  am  determined  to  have  nothing  further  to  do 
with  him."     I  make  no  doubt,  however,  that  you 
will  deliver  his  things  to  any  person  he  may  em- 
power to  receive  them,  and  therefore  think  such  an 
order   unnecessary.  ...   Dr.   Bancroft,    being    by 
this  time  with  you,  will  take  all   steps  possible  to 
promote  your  refitting  and  forward  the  payment  of 


210  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  prize  money.  I  do  not  comprehend  what  the 
weiofht  of  metal  has  to  do  with  the  division,  unless 
when  ships  are  fitted  out  by  different  armers.  I 
hope  your  indisposition  will  soon  be  over,  and  your 
health  reestablished." 

On  the  4th  of  the  same  month  Franklin  wrote  to 
the  president  of  Congress  that  Jones  would  carry 
the  Alliance  home,  unless  prevailed  on  to  enter  an- 
other service,  which  he  did  not  think  likely  ;  that 
Landais  had  not  applied  to  be  replaced  in  her,  and 
had  expressed  to  him  and  to  other  persons  his  dis- 
satisfaction with  his  officers,  and  his  inclination  on 
that  account  to  leave  her.  This  lunatic  who  was 
subject  to  be  tried  as  an  American  officer,  by  a  court- 
martial,  was  also  liable,  as  a  subject  of  France,  and 
as  holding  its  commission,  to  the  summary  jurisdic- 
tion exercised  in  that  country. 

He  was  now,  however,  instigated  by  meddling  in- 
dividuals, and  prompted  by  his  own  solemn  vanity, 
to  ask  to  be  placed  in  the  command  of  the  Alliance. 
He  wrote  to  this  effect  on  the  17th  of  March.  The 
answer  of  FrankKn  was  plain  and  severe  enough  : 
"  No  one  ever  learned  the  opinion  of  you  from  in- 
quiry made  into  your  conduct.  I  kept  it  entirely  to 
myself.  I  have  not  even  hinted  it  in  my  letters  to 
America,  because  I  would  not  hazard  giving  to  any 
one  a  bias  to  your  prejudice.  By  communicating  a 
part  of  that  opinion  privately  to  you  I  can  do  no 
harm,  for  you  may  burn  it.  I  should  not  give  you 
the  pain  of  reading  it,  if  your  demand  did  not  make 
it  necessary.    I  think  you,  then^  so  imprudent,  so 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  211 

litigious,  and  quarrelsome  a  man,  even  with  your 
best  friends,  that  peace  and  good  order,  and  con- 
sequently the  quiet  and  regular  subordination  so 
necessary  to  success,  are  where  3'ou  preside  impos- 
sible. These  are  within  my  observation  and  appre- 
hension. Your  military  operations  I  leave  to  more 
capable  judges.  If,  therefore,  I  had  twenty  ships- 
of-war  in  my  disposition,  I  should  not  give  one  of 
them  to  Captain  Landais.  The  same  temper  which 
excluded  him  from  the  French  marine  would  weio-h 
equally  with  me.  Of  course  I  should  not  replace 
him  in  the  Alliance." 

Previous  to  the  letter  of  Franklin,  of  March  4th, 
the  Board  of  Admiralty  had  resolved  to  order  the 
Alliance  home,  with  such  supplies  as  she  could  bring 
out.  It  had  been  judged  necessary  to  detach  four 
ships  to  guard  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  which  left 
the  coasts  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  enemy's 
armed  vessels  from  New  York.  On  the  surrender 
of  Charleston  in  May  following,  these  four  frigates 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  18th  of  March  Franklin  wrote  that,  after 
his  despatches  should  have  been  received,  with  some 
of  the  supplies,  he  knew  of  nothing  to  prevent  Jones 
from  proceeding  immediately  to  such  port  in  North 
America  as  he  could  reach  with  safety. 

He  said  :  "I  wish  the  prize  money  due  to  your 
people  could  be  paid  before  you  go.  I  have  spoken 
often  about  it."  He  mentioned  that  it  was  thought 
doubtful  whether  anything  could  be  recovered  by 
peaceable  means  for  the  prizes  surrendered  in  Nor- 


212  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

way.    "  The  ships-of-war  you  took  are,  I  hear,  to 

be  valued,  the  king  intending  to  purchase  them  ;  and 
the  muster  roll  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard  is  want- 
ing in  order  to  regulate  the  proportions  to  each  ship. 
These  things  may  take  time.  I  have  considered 
that  the  people  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard  may 
want  some  little  supplies  for  the  voyage ;  and  there- 
fore, if  these  proportions  should  not  be  regulated 
and  paid  before  you  sail,  and  you  find  it  necessary, 
you  may  draw  on  me  as  far  as  24,000  livres  to  ad- 
vance to  them,  for  which  they  are  to  be  account- 
able ;  but  do  not  exceed  that  sum.  1  do  this  to  pre- 
vent, as  far  as  in  me  lies,  the  bad  effect  of  any  un- 
easiness among  them  ;  for  I  suppose  that  regularl}^ 
all  payments  to  seamen  should  be  made  at  home." 
He  added  his  wishes  that  Jones  should  join,  if  pos- 
sible, the  convoy  which  was  to  sail  at  the  beginning 
of  the  next  month,  and  sail  with  it  until  off  the 
coast,  but  left  it  to  his  discretion  and  judgment. 

On  the  1st  of  April  he  forwarded  to  him  an  order 
for  the  delivery  of  the  arms  above  mentioned  and 
100,000  pounds  of  gunpowder;  and  informed  him 
that  M.  le  Ray  de  Chaumont  had  directed  his  cor- 
respondent at  L'Orient  to  advance  100,000  livres, 
for  the  Americans  of  the  Alliance  and  Bonhomme 
Richard,  on  account. 

In  relation  to  the  distribution  of  the  prize  money, 
Franklin,  the  best  authoritv,  said  in  answer  to  the 
questions  of  the  admiralty  board,  that  no  agreement 
had  been  made  by  him,  or  on  his  behalf,  with  the 
armers  of  the  ships  acting  in  concert  with  the 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  213 

Alliance.  That  he  supposed  the  division  would  be 
according  to  the  laws  of  France  or  America,  as 
might  be  found  most  equitable ;  but  that  the  captains 
had  entered  into  an  agreement,  called  the  concor- 
dat, to  divide  according  to  the  rules  of  America, 
under  whose  commissions  and  colors  they  acted. 

Franklin,  in  the  answer  before  referred  to,  gives  a 
true  and  brief  account  of  a  long  story,  as  follows. 
He  says  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Alliance 
**  were  encouraged  by  some  meddling  passengers  to 
persist.  The  king  would  have  taken  the  prizes,  and 
paid  for  them,  at  the  rate  per  gun,  etc.,  as  he  pays 
for  warlike  vessels  taken  by  his  ships,  but  they 
raised  a  clamor  at  this,  it  being  put  into  their  heads 
that  it  was  a  project  for  cheating  them,  and  they 
demanded  a  sale  by  auction.  The  minister,  who 
usually  gives  more,  when  ships  are  taken  for  the 
king,  than  they  will  produce  by  auction,  readily 
consented  to  this,  when  I  asked  it  of  him ;  but  then 
this  method  required  time  to  have  them  inventoried, 
advertised  in  different  ports,  to  create  a  fuller  con- 
currence of  buyers,  etc. ;  Captain  Jones  came  up  to 
Paris  to  hasten  the  proceedings.  In  his  absence 
Captain  Landais,  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Lee  and 
Commodore  Gillon,  took  possession  of  the  ship,  and 
kept  her  long  in  writing  up  to  Paris  waiting 
answers,"  etc. 

The  100,000  livres  were  not  forthcoming  as  ex- 
pected by  Jones.  On  the  4th  of  April  Jones  wrote 
to  Franklin  :  "  I  fear  that  you  will  now  find  that 
M.  Chaumont  has  imposed  upon  you,  by  promising 


214  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

what  he  has  had  no  intention  to  perform.  He  has 
given  me  no  means  of  advancing  money  here  ;  and 
if  the  people  remain  much  longer  dissatisfied,  I 
tremble,  and  let  him  tremble  too,  for  the  conse- 
quence. Besides  the  affairs  mentioned  in  the  written 
letter,  he  has  made  another  proposition  that  an 
honest  man  would  be  ashamed  of.  I  wait  for 
something  further  by  the  next  post,  for  I  am  very 
loth  to  expose  his  conduct,  and  willing  to  give  him 
time  to  repent."  Such  was  the  strong  language 
which  he  used  under  immediate  disappointment 
and  misapprehension.  "While  it  requires  insertion, 
it  equally  requires  such  explanation  as  can  readily 
be  given.  Jones  supposed  M.  Chaumont,  the  com- 
missary, as  he  called  him,  to  have  money  of  the 
government  in  his  hands  or  at  command.  The  fact 
was,  that  he  was  largely  in  advance  on  his  own 
account  to  the  new  republic ;  and  that  the  offer  to 
advance  the  100,000  livres  was  a  voluntary  one.  It 
has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  correspondence 
between  him  and  Jones,  except  as  it  was  official, 
had  ceased. 

What  was  meant  by  the  "  shameful "  proposition 
spoken  of  was  left  for  conjecture.  It  is  certain  that 
neither  Franklin  nor  Lafayette  ever  found  out 
anything  that  was  disgraceful  in  the  conduct  of  M. 
de  Chaumont.  It  also  appears  that  the  latter,  hav- 
ing all  the  risk  upon  his  own  shoulders,  wanted  the 
business  vouchers  which  would  at  least  be  evidence 
of  his  advances,  whether  he  could  ever  recover 
them  or  not. 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  215 

According  to  a  memorandum  given  by  Jones  to 
M.  de  la  Sartine  on  the  20th  of  May,  it  appears  that 
M.  de  Chaumont  wished  the  muster  roll  of  the 
crew  of  the  Bonhomme  Kichard  to  state  the  men's 
Avages  as  commencing  in  June,  when  many  of  them 
had  enlisted  in  February  and  March.  At  that  time, 
those  rated  according  to  his  request  bad  been  paid. 
Objections  were  made  also  to  the  payment  of 
30,000  livres  to  the  crew  of  the  Alliance,  for  the 
time  during  which  they  served  under  Jones  on  the 
expedition,  which  Franklin  had  not  the  appropriate 
funds  to  meet. 

Jones  had  now  determined  to  go  to  Paris.  In 
the  fragment  of  a  letter  without  date,  ascertained 
from  the  contents  to  have  been  written  in  1792,  he 
sa^'s :  "Though  my  crews  were  almost  naked,  and 
I  had  no  money  to  administer  to  their  wants,  yet 
my  constant  applications  to  court  for  two  months 
produced  no  relief,  no  payment  whatever,  either  for 
salary  or  prize  money.  I  was  on  the  point  of  sail- 
ing back  to  America  without  any  appearance  of 
obtaining  justice;  without  the  least  acknowledg- 
ment direct  or  indirect  that  the  court  was  satisfied 
with  my  services !  Under  these  circumstances,  in  a 
moment  of  despair,  I  came  to  court  to  demand 
satisfaction. 

In  the  fragment  quoted  from,  written  in  1792, 
which  is  unquestionably  in  his  own  hands,  he  pro- 
ceeds to  say  :  "  The  Minister  of  the  United  States 
accompanied  me  to  M.  de  Sartine,  who  gave  us  a 
reception  as  cold  as  ice,  did  not  say  to  me  a  civil 


216  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

word,  nor  even  ask  me  if  my  health  had  not  suffered 
from  my  wounds,  and  the  uncommon  fatigue  I  had 
undergone.  The  public  did  me  more  justice  than  the 
minister,  and  I  owe  to  the  king  alone  the  flattering 
marks  of  distinction  with  which  I  was  honored." 

Jones  became  the  temporary  lion  of  Paris ;  and 
enjoyed  what  heroes  most  dearly  loved  from  the 
principle  of  their  nature,  which  makes  them  such — 
the  reality  of  fame — if  the  phrase  may  be  used 
without  absurdity. 

In  Jones'  Journal  for  the  king,  and  other  formal 
narratives  by  himself,  there  is  of  course  no  method- 
ical account  of  the  successive  tokens  of  distinction 
which  he  received,  though  the  references  to  them  in 
his  subsequent  letters  are  frequent.  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  he  was  in  correspondence  Avith  some 
of  the  principal  actors  of  the  day,  those  most  in  the 
public  eyes  ;  and  that,  however  hard  it  may  be  to 
pay  money  for  services  justly  rendered,  it  is  both 
easy  and  agreeable  to  pay  compliments.  It  was 
also  natural  that  the  people  of  France,  who  had 
heard  of  his  exploits,  should  greet  him  as  they  did 
at  theaters  and  in  public  places.  The  court  and  the 
community  jointly  and  severally  did  him  homage, 
and  ladies  smiled  upon  him. 

On  his  public  reception,  he  says  himself  that  "  he 
received  at  Paris,  and  other  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
the  most  flattering  applause  and  public  approbation 
wherever  he  appeared.  Both  the  great  and  the 
learned  sought  his  acquaintance  in  private  life,  and 
honored  him  with  particular  marks  of  friendship. 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  217 

At  court  he  was  always  received  with  a  kindness 
which  could  only  have  arisen  from  a  fixed  esteem." 

AVhatever  were  his  honors  or  his  distractions  dur- 
ing this  month  of  May,  Jones  did  not  neglect  im- 
proving the  favorable  terms  on  which  he  stood,  for 
the  benefit  of  his  adopted  country.  He  applied  to 
and  obtained  from  government  to  follow  his  Journal 
**'  a  loan  of  the  Ariel  of  twenty  guns,  to  assist  the 
Alliance  to  transport  a  large  quantity  of  clothing, 
character,  etc.,  to  America,  then  ready  to  be  sent  for 
the  army  under  the  command  of  General  Washing- 
ton. He  had  already  embarked  on  board  the  Alli- 
ance the  cannon  he  had  provided  for  the  Bon- 
homme  Eichard,  but  which  had  arrived  at  L'Orient 
too  late  for  that  ship,  besides  a  quantity  of  muskets 
and  powder.  And  a  cartel  having  arrived  with 
American  prisoners  from  England,  had  enabled 
him  to  leave  behind  near  four  hundred  seamen  on 
board  the  Alliance.  So  that  he  could  have  spared  a 
crew  for  the  Ariel  without  any  expense  or  loss  of 
time.  It  was  his  intention  to  arm  the  Ariel  enfluU^ 
and  to  carry  a  considerable  part  of  the  clothing  in 
the  Alliance. 

"  Finding  the  sails  of  the  prize  protracted  much 
beyond  his  expectations,  he  endeavored,  but  without 
success,  to  obtain  some  advance  for  his  officers  and 
crew,  to  enable  them  to  proceed  for  America,  and, 
the  latter  end  of  May,  took  leave  of  their  majesties, 
the  court,  and  his  friends  at  Paris." 

The  king  had  ordered  that  the  commodore  should 
be  presented  with  a  gold  sword,  and  that  he  should, 


218  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES- 

with  the  permission  of  Congress,  receive  the  cross  of 
military  merit,  a  decoration  conferred  previous!}^  on 
those  only  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  the 
proper  service  of  France. 

On  the  1st  of  June  Jones  received  directions 
from  Franklin  to  carry  into  effect  the  resolution 
of  the  Admiralty  Board,  requiring  the  return  of 
that  vessel,  with  all  due  expedition  ;  and  on  the 
4th  W.  Franklin  enclosed  him  the  copy  of  a 
letter  from  M.  de  Sartine,  which  stated  that  the 
commissary  and  commandant  at  L'Orient  had  orders 
from  the  minister  to  render  every  assistance  in  their 
power  to  facilitate  his  departure. 

But  there  was  a  fatality  attending  the  departures 
of  Jones  from  port.  That  "  singularly  wild  "  and 
disagreeable  chevalier  Landais  had  been  at  L'Orient 
during  Jones'  absence,  and  with  the  help  of  mis- 
chievous prompters  and  councilors,  aided  by  the 
discontent  which  prevailed  among  the  officers  on 
account  of  not  receiving  prize  money  or  pay,  had 
resolved  to  retain  the  command  of  the  Alliance. 

On  the  12th  of  April  previous,  the  officers  of  the 
Alliance  had  addressed  Franklin,  informing  him  of 
their  necessitous  circumstances,  and  that  tiiey  were 
alarmed  at  receiving  neither  wages  nor  prize  money 
when  the  ship  was  so  nearly  prepared  for  sea. 

In  his  reply  of  the  7th  of  June,  he  told  them 
that,  having  nothing  to  do  with  the  prizes,  he  had 
advanced  the  24,000  livres  before  spoken  of,  for 
their  immediate  wants  ;  and  that  as  to  wages,  he 
thought  they  should  be  expected  at  home.     He  told 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  219 

them  that,  in  consequence  of  being  frequently  in- 
formed from  L'Orient  that  the  proposed  method  of 
vahnng  the  prizes  excited  discontent,  he  had  pro- 
cured a  consent  that  they  should  be  sold  at  public 
auction ;  which  necessarily  required  time,  unless 
they  were  to  be  sacrificed.  He  expressed  his  sur- 
prise that,  after  the  complaints  he  had  received  from 
them  a  year  previous  against  Landais,  and  the  state- 
ment of  the  latter  at  that  time,  that  they  were  all 
joined  together  against  him,  he,  who  had  been  at 
Paris  merely,  as  he  professed,  to  vindicate  himself 
and  obtain  an  order  for  his  own  property  on  board 
of  the  Alliance,  should  desire  to  resume  the  com- 
mand, and  that  they  should  again  wish  to  sail  under 
him.  He  said,  "  I  have  related  exactly  to  Congress 
the  manner  of  his  leaving  the  ship,  and  though  I 
declined  any  judgment  of  his  maneuvers  in  the 
fight,  I  have  given  it  as  my  opinion  (to  Congress), 
after  examining  the  affair,  that  it  was  not  at  all 
likely,  either  that  he  should  have  given  orders  to 
fire  into  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  or  that  his  offi- 
cers would  have  obeyed  such  an  order  had  it  been 
given  them.  Thus  I  have  taken  what  care  I  could 
of  your  honor  in  that  particular.  You  will,  there- 
fore, excuse  me  if  I  am  a  little  concerned  for  it  in 
another.  If  it  should  come  to  be  publicly  known 
that  you  had  the  strongest  aversion  to  Captain  Lan- 
dais, who  had  used  you  basely,  and  that  it  is  only 
since  the  last  year's  cruise,  and  the  appointment  of 
Commodore  Jones  to  the  command,  that  you  request 
to  be  again  under  your  old  captain,  I  fear  suspicions 


220  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

and  reflections  may  be  thrown  upon  you  by  the 
world,  as  if  this  chano:e  of  sentiment  mav  have  arisen 
from  your  observation  during  the  cruise  that  Cap- 
tain Jones  loved  close  fighting,  that  Captain  Lan- 
dais  was  skilful  in  keeping  out  of  harm's  way,  and 
that  you,  therefore,  thought  yourselves  safer  with 
the  latter.  For  myself,  I  believe  you  to  be  brave 
men,  and  lovers  of  your  country  and  its  glorious 
cause ;  and  I  am  persuaded  you  haye  only  been  ill- 
advised  and  misled  by  the  artful  and  malicious 
representation  of  some  persons  I  guess. at.  Take  in 
good  part  this  friendly  council  from  an  old  man 
who  is  your  friend.  Go  home  peaceably  with  your 
ship.  Do  your  duty  faithfully  and  cheerfully.  Be- 
have respectfully  to  your  commander,  and  I  am 
persuaded  he  will  do  the  same  to  you.  Thus  3^ou 
will  not  only  be  happier  in  your  voyage,  but  rec- 
ommend yourselves  to  the  future  fayors  of  Con- 
gress and  of  your  country." 

On  the  same  day,  he  wrote  peremptorily  to  Lan- 
dais,  expressing  his  astonishment  that  the  latter 
should  be  at  L'Orient,  when  he  had  thought  him 
long  before  on  his  yoyage  to  America  for  trial ;  to 
enable  him  to  do  which,  he  had  been  furnished  with 
a  considerable  sum  of  money.  Landais  had  coolly 
written  on  the  29th  of  May  that  "  he  had  been 
waiting  for  Franklin's  orders  ever  since,  to  retake 
the  command  of  the  Alliance !  " 

The  minister  said :  "  I  waive  any  further  dispute 
with  3^ou  ;  but  I  charge  3"ou  not  to  meddle  with  the 
command,  or  create  any  disturbance  on  board  her, 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  221 

as  you  will  answer  the  contrary  at  your  peril." 
But  Landais  had  got  an  opinion  from  Mr.  Arthur 
Lee,  who  had  a  taste  for  "  constitutional  construc- 
tion," that  he  might  treat  the  minister's  orders  with 
silent  contempt. 

The  sailors  became  peremptory  in  their  demands. 
On  the  12th  of  June  we  find  Franklin  writing  to 
Jones :  *'  Saturday  morning  I  received  a  letter 
signed  by  about  115  of  the  sailors  of  the  Alliance, 
declaring  that  they  would  not  raise  the  anchor,  nor 
depart  from  L'Orient,  till  they  had  six  months' 
wages  paid  them,  and  the  utmost  farthing  of  the 
prize  money,  including  the  ships  sent  into  Norway, 
and  until  their  legal  captain,  P.  Landais,  was  restored 
to  them.  This  mutiny  has  undoubtedly  been  ex- 
cited  by  that  captain ;  probably  b}^  making  them 
believe  that  satisfaction  has  been  received  for  those 
Norway  prizes  delivered  up  to  the  English.  That 
he  is  concerned  in  this  mutiny  he  has  been  foolish 
enough  to  furnish  us  with  proofs ;  the  sailors'  letter 
being  not  only  enclosed  under  a  cover  directed  to 
me  in  his  handwriting,  but  he  also,  in  the  same 
writing,  interlined  the  words,  their  legal  captain, 
P.  Landais,  which  happens  to  contain  his  signature. 
I  immediately  went  to  Versailles  to  demand  the 
assistance  of  government,  and  on  showing  the  letter, 
by  which  his  guilt  plainly  appeared,  an  order  was 
immediately  granted,  and  sent  away  the  same 
evening,  for  apprehending  and  imprisoning  him, 
and  orders  were  promised  to  be  given  at  the  same 
time  to  the  commissary  of  the  port  to  afford  you 


222  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

all  kind  of  assistance  to  facilitate  your  departure, 
M.  Chaumont  being  with  me,  and  assisting  warmly 
in  obtaining  these  orders.  We  thought  it  best,  at  the 
same  time,  to  give  directions  that  those  sailors  who 
have  sio:ned  this  letter  should  not  be  favored  with 
receiving  any  part  of  the  money  ordered  to  be  ad- 
vanced, in  part  of  what  it  is  supposed  the  Serapis 
and  Countess  of  Scarborough  may  be  sold  for,  un- 
less such  as  express  their  sorrow  for  having  been  so 
misled,  and  willingness  to  do  their  duty.  And  that 
thev  mav  be  known,  their  title  w^as  sent  down  to 
M.  de  Marplanir.  But  care  should  be  taken  that  it 
be  returned,  as  it  contains  the  proofs  above  men- 
tioned against  Landais,  who  will  probably  be  tried 
for  his  life ;  being  considered  by  the  minister  as  an 
emigrant  Avithout  the  king's  permission,  and  there- 
fore still  a  Frenchman,  and  when  in  France,  still 
subject  to  its  laws." 

Up  to  this  period,  whatever  might  have  been  done 
in  secret  cabal,  no  open  disrespect  had  been  shown 
to  Jones.  He  states  that  he  had  been  on  board  of 
the  Alliance  for  a  considerable  part  of  the  time 
after  his  return  from  Yersailles,  and  "  had  alwa3^s 
been  well  received  and  duly  obeyed."  But  finding 
that  "  his  commission  and  authority  had  been  called 
in  question,"  he  ordered  the  former  as  well  as 
Franklin's  order  to  be  read  on  board,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  12th  of  June,  for  the  satisfaction  of  all 
present.  AYhat  amounted  to  a  mutiny  occurred  in 
consequence. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  June,  he  went  on 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  223 

shore  to  make  arrangements  with  the  commandant 
for  despatching  the  Ariel,  and  Landais  went  on 
board,  declaring  that  he  came  to  take  command  of 
the  ship,  and  would  support  himself  by  force 
against  any  person  who  should  dispute  his  authority. 
He  had  written  to  Lieutenant  Degge,  as  lieutenant 
in  command  on  board  the  frigate  Alliance,  ordering 
him  to  keep  the  command  of  the  frigate  from  any 
one  who  should  seek  to  take  it,  contrary  to  the  re- 
solve of  Congress,  and  to  his  prejudice,  until  he 
should  receive  an  answer  from  his  excellency  Dr. 
Franklin,  on  the  reception  of  which  he  would  take 
the  command.  He  added :  ''  I  expect  Dr.  Franklin 
can't  deny  it  to  me,  unless  he  has  an  order  to  the 
contrary  from  Congress."  This  letter  had  been 
dictated  by  some  of  the  "  meddling  passengers," 
and  was  read  to  the  crew  by  Lieutenant  Degge. 

Finding  that  Landais  had  taken  possession,  by  the 
advice  of  the  commandant  of  the  marine  and  com- 
mandant of  the  road,  Jones  wrote  to  Franklin  by 
express,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  what 
may  be  called  the  mutiny  occurred.  He  said : 
"  Several  of  the  brave  officers  who  served  with  me 
in  the  Bonhomme  Richard  have  already  been 
treated  with  indignity  on  board ;  and  my  first  lieu- 
tenant, Mr.  Dale,  this  moment  tells  me  that  he  and 
some  others  have  been  turned  ashore.  Before  I 
came  ashore  this  forenoon,  the  crew  being  assembled, 
I  demanded  whether  any  of  them  could  say  a  word 
to  my  disadvantage.  They  answered,  they  could 
not.    There  was  then  every  appearance  of  general 


224  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

contentment  and  subordination.     I  am  certain  that 
the  people  love  and  would  readily  obey  me." 

Mr.  Arthur  Lee  thus  wrote  to  Jones  on  the  13th  : 

"  Sir,— 

"  When  you  showed  me  yesterday  the  authorities 
under  which  you  conceive  you  had  a  right  to  com- 
mand the  Alliance  frigate,  I  told  you  it  was  not  in 
my  power  to  give  you  an  opinion  upon  them  with- 
out seeing  those  of  Captain  Landais ;  and  that  I 
would  not  give  an  opinion  in  this  matter,  but  in 
writing.  Since  that  I  have  seen  the  authorities  of 
Captain  Landais,  and  I  now  shall  state  them  both, 
with  my  opinion  upon  them ;  which  I  hope  may  be 
of  use  in  preventing  any  further  contest,  which 
cannot  but  be  disgraceful  and  injurious  to  the  serv- 
ice, as  well  as  to  those  Avho  are  in  the  wrong. 

"  The  authorities  you  showed  me  consisted  of  a 
commission  from  Congress  and  a  late  order  from 
Dr.  Franklin  to  you  to  take  command  of  the  Alli- 
ance, and  carry  her  where  she  is  ordered  by  the 
admiralty.  This  order  from  Dr.  Franklin  does  not 
recite  or  allege  any  power  from  Congress  to  take 
the  command  from  Captain  Landais,  and  put  an- 
other in  his  place. 

"  The  authorities  Captain  Landais  laid  before  me 
were  a  commission  from  Congress,  like  yours,  ap- 
pointing him  captain  in  the  service  ;  a  resolve  of 
Congress  giving  him  the  command  of  the  Alliance 
frigate  ;  and  a  letter  of  instructions  for  that  pur- 
pose from  the  marine  committee. 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  225 

"  From  these  documents  it  is  clear,  beyond  a  pos- 
sibility of  doubt,  that  Captain  Landais  commands 
that  ship  under  the  full,  direct,  and  express  order 
of  Congress  ;  and  that  no  such  authority  appears  to 
dismiss  him  from  the  command.  In  this  situation 
Captain  Landais  must  answer  at  his  peril  for  the 
friaate  intrusted  to  him  till  he  receives  an  order  of 
Congress  to  deliver  her  to  another.  If  any  such 
order  exists,  those  who  have  it  do  infinite  wrong  to 
the  service  in  not  producing  it,  to  prevent  any  dis- 
turbance. If  there  is  no  such  order,  the  subjects  of 
the  United  States  who  attempt  to  divest  Captain 
Landais  of  the  command  beholds  from  the  sovereign 
power,  or  to  disturb  him  by  violence  in  the  exercise 
of  it,  commit  a  high  crime  against  the  laws  and 
sovereignty  of  the  United  States  and  subject  them- 
selves to  a  proportionable  punishment. 

^'  This,  sir,  is  my  opinion,  founded  upon  a  cool  and 
candid  consideration  of  the  authorities  on  both  sides  ; 
which  alone  ought  to  determine  our  judgment  and 
our  actions.  You  are  at  liberty  to  show  this  letter 
to  whom  you  please,  or  to  send  it  to  Dr.  Franklin. 
Should  it  prevail  upon  you  to  urge  this  matter  no 
farther  till  you  know  whether  there  is  authority  of 
Congress  for  what  you  are  doing,  I  shall  think  I 
have  rendered  no  less  service  to  you  personally,  in 
preventing  you  from  committing  a  rash  and  illegal 
action,  than  to  the  public,  the  honor  of  which  must 
be  committed  by  such  a  contest  in  a  foreign  port. 
When  1  see  such  things  threatened,  my  duty  to  my 
country  and  the  love  of  law  and  order  call  upon 
15 


226  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

me  to  do  whatever  is  in  my  power  to  prevent  them. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc." 

This  valuable  opinion  of  Mr.  Lee  did  not  come 
into  Jones'  hands  until  a  week  after  his  date.  The 
latter,  in  his  letter  to  the  commandant  of  the  port, 
called  on  him  for  support,  as  he  had  not  sufficient 
force  to  assert  his  own  rights,  and  did  not  wish  to 
have  a  scene  with  Landais.  The  letter  was  probably 
more  for  form's  sake  than  otherwise ;  for  an  open 
affray  would  have  been  discreditable  to  the  Ameri- 
can flag,  and  injurious  to  the  character  of  the  na- 
tion. 

Jones  went  incognito,  as  he  says  in  his  journal, 
to  Yersailles  "  to  explain  what  had  happened,"  and 
returned  with  all  possible  expedition.  On  the  16th 
we  find  Franklin  very  briefly  and  peremptorily 
w^ritingto  Landais  and  to  the  officers  of  the  Alliance, 
commanding  obedience  to  his  former  and  present 
orders.  On  the  17th  he  wrote  to  Jones,  who  was 
then  on  his  way  to  court,  that  "  having  been  in- 
formed by  several  gentlemen,  of  and  from  L'Orient, 
that  it  w^as  there  generally  understood  that  the 
mutiny  on  board  his  ship  had  been  advised  or  pro- 
moted by  the  Honorable  Arthur  Lee,  whom  he  had 
ordered  Jones  to  receive  as  a  passenger,  he  thereby 
withdrew  that  order  so  far  as  to  leave  it  to  Jones' 
discretion."  He  added  that  this  need  not  obstruct 
Mr.  Lee's  return  to  America,  as  there  were  several 
ships  going  under  Jones'  convoy,  and  many  of  the 
passengers  might  prefer  changing  places.    Cotem- 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  22Y 

poraneouslj,  for  I  do  not  find  the  dates,  fourteen 
of  the  officers  of  the  Alliance  addressed  Franklin, 
representing  that  they  believed  the  ship's  crew  were 
unanimously  in  favor  of  Captain  Landais,  whose 
conduct  in  the  engagement  off  Scarborough  had 
been  misrepresented ;  and  that  they  thought  them- 
selves bound  to  obey  him,  according  to  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  the  navy. 

The  wise  opinion  of  Mr.  Lee  and  those  deluded 
men  is  best  exposed  by  the  questions  put  at  the 
time  by  Dr.  Franklin  to  Mr.  Adams,  which  involve 
their  own  inevitable  answers.  They  were,  in  brief, 
whether  Landais,  accused  of  capital  crimes  by  his 
commanding  officer,  after  having  relinquished  com- 
mand of  the  frigate,  asked  leave  to  withdraw  his 
effects,  solicited  and  received  money  from  the  minis- 
ter to  bear  his  expenses  to  America,  where  he  was 
to  be  tried,  and  applied  for  a  passage  in  a  private 
ship  ;  was  entitled  at  his  pleasure  to  retake  command 
of  the  frigate,  contrary  to  the  express  orders  of  the 
same  minister,  where  he  was  instructed  to  obey  ; 
"  and  to  dispossess  his  successor,  the  oldest  naval 
officer  of  the  L^nited  States  in  Europe,  who  had  com- 
manded that  frigate  near  eight  months,  and  brought 
to  the  port  where  she  then  was."  The  other  ques- 
tions, equally  irresistible,  related  to  the  propriety 
of  the  conduct  of  Landais,  and  the  policy  of  suffer- 
ing him  to  retain  the  command. 

Landais,  however,  and  his  constitutional  advisers 
got  off,  by  a  forbearance  on  the  part  of  Jones,  dic- 
tated by  wise  and  prudential  considerations,  at  a 


228  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

moment  when  indignation  might  have  thrown  the 
reins  loose  without  reproach.  Orders  from  govern- 
ment were  sent  to  L'Orient,  to  arrest  Landais  as  a 
French  subject,  and  to  stop  the  Alliance. 

Jones'  letter  written  after  his  return  from  Yer- 
sailles  best  explains  the  intermediate  transaction? 
and  the  motives  of  his  conduct  : 

"  L'Orient,  June  21st,  1780. 
"  Sir,— 

"  I  was  detained  at  Yersailles  forty  hours  from 
the  time  of  my  arrival,  and  was  then  informed  by 
M.  de  Genet  that  an  express  had  been  sent  from 
court  with  the  necessary  orders  to  the  king's  officers 
at  L'Orient,  respecting  Captain  Landais  and  the 
Alliance.  I  found  myself  here  early  yesterday 
morning,  fifty -four  hours  after  leaving  Yersailles. 
The  Alliance  had,  the  evening  and  night  before,  been 
Avarped  and  towed  from  the  road  of  L'Orient  to  Port 
Louis  ;  and  no  express  from  court  had  arrived  here. 
M.  de  Thevenard,  the  commandant,  however,  made 
every  necessary  preparation  to  stop  the  Alliance, 
as  appears  by  the  enclosed  document  on  the  subject. 
He  had  even  sent  orders  in  the  evening,  before  I 
was  aware,  to  fire  on  the  Alliance,  and  sink  her  to 
the  bottom,  if  they  attempted  to  approach  and  pass 
the  barrier  that  had  been  made  across  the  entrance 
of  the  port.  Had  I  even  remained  silent  an  hour 
longer,  the  dreadful  w^ork  would  have  been  done. 
Your  humanity  will,  I  know,  justify  the  part  I  acted 
in  preventing  a  scene  that  would  have  rendered  me 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  229 

miserable  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  The  Alliance  has 
this  morning  been  towed  and  warped  through  the 
rocks,  and  is  now  at  anchor  without,  between  Port 
Louis  and  Groix.  In  this  situation  I  at  noon  sent 
our  Lieutenant  Dale  with  a  letter  to  Captain  Landais, 
whereof  the  within  is  a  copy. 

"  Yesterday  morning  the  within  letter  was  brought 
me  from  Mr.  Lee,  though  I  had  never  even  hinted 
that  his  opinion  or  advice  would  be  acceptable.  He 
has,  however,  pulled  off  the  mask,  and  I  am  con- 
vinced, is  not  a  little  disappointed  that  his  operations 
have  produced  no  bloodshed  between  the  subjects 
of  France  and  America.     Poor  man ! 

"  M.  de  Thevenard,  on  his  part,  sent  the  deputy 
of  M.  Sweighauser  on  board  with  your  letters,  under 
his  own  cover,  to  Captain  Landais,  and  to  the  of- 
ficers and  men  of  the  Alliance.  The  one  was  de- 
livered to  Captain  Landais,  the  other  to  Lieutenant 
Digges.  M.  de  Thevenard  also  sent  on  board  an 
officer  with  the  king's  order  to  arrest  Captain  Lan- 
dais, who  refused  to  surrender  himself.  Accord- 
ing to  them,  you  cannot  displace  him,  however  great 
his  crimes !  If  the  government  does  not  interfere 
to  crush  this  despicable  party,  France  and  America 
have  much  to  fear  from  it.  I  verily  believe  them 
to  be  English  at  the  bottom  of  their  hearts. 

**  N.  B.  Mr.  Dale  has  this  moment  brought  me 
the  within  impertinent  note  from  Captain  Lan- 
dais." 

The  letter  to  Landais,  referred  to,  was  a  demand 


230  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

of  the  seamen  who  had  served  on  board  the  Bon- 
homme  Richard,  requesting  that  the}^  might  be 
delivered  on  board  the  boats  sent  by  the  command- 
ant and  commissary  of  the  marine,  with  the  bag- 
gage, stores,  and  barge  of  Jones.  The  impertinent 
reply  I  do  not  find. 

Landais,  among  his  other  "  light  amusements," 
had  had  the  solemn  impudence  to  write  several 
letters,  demanding  payment  of  the  prize  money  due 
to  the  people  of  the  Alliance,  and  complained  on  the 
16th  "  that  time  was  lost  by  the  delay." 

The  former  officers  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard, 
at  the  same  time  (June  26th),  solemnly  besought 
Franklin  not  to  entertain  the  idea  that  the  Ameri- 
cans at  L'Orient  approved  of  the  behavior  of  Landais 
and  his  advisers ;  and  stated  that,  beside  the  risk  of 
ruining  the  measures  adopted  for  the  transportation 
of  clothing,  etc.,  merchandise  to  the  amount  of  two 
millions  of  livres,  which  was  to  have  been  despatched 
under  convoy,  was  put  in  peril  by  the  usurpation 
of  Landais.  They  paid  a  most  exalted  tribute  to 
Jones,  in  expressing  the  confidence  they  would  have 
felt,  had  he  commanded  according  to  the  regular 
instructions  of  the  minister. 

The  following  official  letter,  which  M.  de  Sartine 
addressed  to  Jones,  on  the  28th  of  June,  needs  in- 
sertion,  because  it  was  official,  and  was  despatched 
at  the  right  moment,  being  well  calculated  to  remove 
whatever  feelings  of  mortification  Jones  might  have 
been  supposed  to  labor  with. 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  231 

"  Yeksailles,  June  SSth,  1780. 

"  Sir,— 

"  The  king,  sir,  has  already  made  known  his  satis- 
faction with  the  zeal  and  valor,  which  you  have  dis- 
played in  Europe,  in  support  of  the  common  cause 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  his  Majesty, 
and  he  also  has  informed  vou  of  the  distino^uished 
proofs  he  is  disposed  to  give  you  thereof.  Persuaded 
that  the  United  States  will  give  their  consent  that 
you  should  receive  the  cross  of  the  order  of  military 
merit,  I  send  you,  in  the  accompanying  packet  ad- 
dressed to  M.  de  la  Luzerne,  the  one  designed  for 
you.  You  will  be  pleased  to  deliver  him  this  packet, 
and  he  will  see  that  the  honor  is  conferred  by  a 
knight  of  the  order,  agreeably  to  his  Majesty's  orders. 
But  at  any  rate,  that  you  should  have  a  proof  of  the 
king's  approbation  and  munificence,  his  Majesty  has 
ordered  a  gold  sword  to  be  made  for  you,  which  will 
be  sent  to  you  forthwith,  and  he  has  the  greatest 
confidence  in  the  use  you  will  make  of  it  for  his  glory 
and  that  of  the  United  States. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc. 

"  To  M,  Paul  Jones, 
**  Commodore  of  the  U.  S..Navy,  at  L'Orient." 

The  gold  sword  has  been  spoken  of  before,  but 
probably  this  was  the  first  time  Jones  had  heard  of 
it ;  and  it  would  not  have  quickened  his  desire  to  de- 
part. He  loved  not  baubles,  but  he  dearly  loved 
what  they  meant  and  passed  for  in  France. 

On  the  28  th  Jones  tried  the  effect  of  another  im- 


232  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

perative  letter  to  Captain  Landais,  with  directing 
him  not  to  sail  or  put  to  sea,  before  receiving  instruc- 
tions from  himself,  the  '^senior  and  superior  officer 
of  the  navy  of  the  United  States  in  Europe,"  and  to 
send  eighty  of  the  best  riggers,  with  all  the  joiners 
forthwith,  from  the  Alliance,  to  rig  and  prepare  the 
Ariel. 

Lieutenant  M.  Livingston  undertook  to  deliver 
this  letter.  To  this  request  Landais  replied,  address- 
ing the  commodore  simply  as  ''  John  Paul  Jones, 
Esq.,  at  L'Orient — I  send  the  under-named  people 
on  shore,  being  such  as  1  do  not  find  necessary  for 
the  service  of  the  United  States  of  America  on  board 
this  ship  ;  if  you  have  any  authority  for  taking  them, 
you  will  do  it."  The  names  of  twenty-two  persons 
are  added,  of  five  of  whom  Landais  remarks,  *'  These 
are  prisoners  of  yours." 

On  the  29th  Jones  wrote  to  him,  "  The  boat  re- 
turns for  the  remainder  of  the  men  mentioned  in  my 
order  of  yesterday."  The  following  N.  B.  is  added  : 
"  Captain  Landais  ordered  the  bearer  of  this  letter 
to  remain  in  the  boat  alongside  the  Alliance,  and 
hold  this  open,  with  the  writing  towards  him." 
Having  seen  it,  he  ordered  the  boat  to  be  gone. 

The  Alliance  then  sailed.  Jones  says  in  his  Jour- 
nal that,  when  he  begged  the  barrier  of  the  port 
might  be  removed,  the  commandant  called  the  prin- 
cipal officers  together,  who  signed  a  paper,  ^'stating 
the  preparations  which  had  been  made,  and  express- 
ing their  admiration  of  the  conduct  of  Captain 
Jones."    All  his  papers  and  trunks  sent  ashore  were 


THE  ALLIANCE  FRIGATE.  233 

found  broken  open,  and  the  best  part  of  his  effects 
were  detained,  or  destroyed,  on  board  the  Alliance. 
The  people  who  adhered  to  him  in  that  ship,  and  re- 
fused to  weigh  anchor,  were  confined  and  carried 
away  in  irons.  He  was  left  without  a  crew  for  the 
Ariel,  and  was  unable  to  embark  the  clothing. 


234  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    ARIEL. 

That  Commodore  Jones  was  not  blind  to  the 
charms  of  the  f  ah'  sex  is  proven  by  his  letters,  verses, 
and  other  tokens  of  gallantry  which  need  not  be 
given  a  place  here.  As  an  example  of  his  diction 
the  following  extract  is  given  from  one  of  his  letters 
to  a  lady  whose  name  is  not  given : 

"  When  one  is  conscious  of  having  been  in  fault,  I 
believe  it  is  the  best  way  to  confess  it,  and  to  promise 
amendment.  This  being  my  case  with  respect  to 
you,  madam,  I  am  too  honest  to*attempt  to  excuse 
myself,  and,  therefore,  cast  myself  at  your  feet  and 
beg  your  forgiveness,  on  condition  that  I  behave 
better  hereafter.  For  shame,  Paul  Jones !  How 
could  you  let  the  fairest  lady  in  the  world,  after 
writing  you  two  letters,  wait  so  long  for  an  answer ! 
Are  you  so  much  devoted  to  war,  as  to  neglect  wit 
and  beauty  ?  I  make  myself  a  thousand  such  re- 
proaches, and  believe  I  punish  mj^self  as  severely  as 
you  would  do,  madam,  were  you  present  here  !  " 

On  July  24th  he  wrote  to  Madame  Tellison  : 

"  My  sole  business  at  court  was  to  obtain  the  free 


THE  ARIEL.  235 

sale  of  the  prizes,  which  I  effected.  .  .  .  I  know  that, 
soon  after  my  arrival  in  America,  Congress  will 
render  me  impartial  justice.  I  will  then  have  the 
happiness  to  furnish  you  with  the  account  I  prom- 
ised, and  the  circumstances  will  be  supported  by  the 
fullest  evidence.  I  dare  promise  that  it  will  then 
appear  that  I  have  only  been  to  blame  for  having 
returned  here  fi^om  Paris,  without  having  insisted 
absolutely  on  the  previous  payment  of  my  men. 
Money  is  essential  in  war ;  in  love,  you  will  tell  me, 
perhaps  the  case  may  be  otherwise.  I  have  still  in 
contemplation  to  return  to  France  soon  after  I  arrive 
in  America,  for  I  have  the  most  ardent  desire  to  give 
the  court,  the  nation,  and  my  friends  farther  proofs 
of  my  gratitude,  by  my  services  in  the  glorious  cause 
of  freedom  that  France  has  so  nobly  espoused  in 
concert  with  America." 

On  the  28th  he  wrote  to  the  Marquise  de  La- 
fayette :  "  I  am  once  more  nearly  ready  for  sea. 
If*^  I  can  in  any  respect  render  you  acceptable  serv- 
ices, you  know  I  have  so  much  esteem  and  respect 
for  yourself,  and  so  much  affectionate  friendship 
for  your  husband,  that  you  will,  I  hope,  command 
me  freely.  I  expect  to  embrace  the  marquis  about 
the  first  of  October ;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that 
we  may  return  together  to  France.  Believe  me,  I 
am,  with  great  sincerity  and  regard,"  etc. 

These  letters  to  three  ladies  are  the  only  ones 
found  written  by  Paul  Jones  in  the  month  of  July. 
He  was  soon,  however,  busily  engaged  in  writing  to 


236  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  French  ministersj  and  those  who  had  access  to, 
or  influence  with,  them.  Jones  laid  his  projects  be- 
fore them  again  ;  and  again  strenuousl}^  and  not  in- 
decorously  applied  for  employment  in  what  his  soul 
most  sighed  for,  an  expedition  after  his  own  heart ; 
in  which  he  should  have  no  concordat  to  control 
him,  no  sage  peers  to  neutralize  his  purposes.  lie 
could  not  expect  any  such  command  from  Congress, 
even  on  the  most  modest  scale.  He  endeavored  to 
avail  himself  of  his  reputation,  and  the  influence  it 
might  create  for  him,  in  every  direction,  to  obtain 
such  a  force  as  might  enable  him  hopefully  to  at- 
tempt some  one  of  those  schemes,  with  which  his 
ardent  ambition  was  teeming ;  which,  if  it  did  not 
"  strike  a  blow  that  should  resound  through  the 
universe,"  would  sensibly  affect  the  nerves  of  the 
imaginary  ocean  queen  ;  and  teach  her  -that,  if  she 
had  rebels,  pirates,  and  privateers  to  deal  with,  they 
were  of  no  common  sort. 

When  Jones  had  the  Ariel  nearly  ready  for  sea, 
he  wrote,  under  date  of  August  2d,  to  the  Count  of 
Yergennes,  of  which  the  following  is  a  portion  : 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary,  my  lord,  to  destroy 
the  foreign  commerce  of  the  English,  especially 
their  trade  to  the  Baltic,  from  whence  they  draw 
all  the  supplies  for  their  marine.  It  is  equally  nec- 
essary to  alarm  their  coasts,  not  only  in  the  colonies 
abroad,  but  even  in  their  islands  at  home.  These 
things  would  distress  and  distract  the  enemy  much 
more  than  many  battles   between  fleets  of  equal 


THE  ARIEL.  237 

force.  England  has  carried  on  the  war  against 
America  in  a  far  more  barbarous  form  than  she 
durst  have  adopted  against  any  power  of  Europe. 
America  has  a  right  to  retaliate  ;  and  by  our  hav- 
ing the  same  language  and  customs  with  the  enemy, 
we  are  in  a  situation  to  surprise  their  coast  and 
take  such  advantage  of  their  unguarded  situation, 
under  the  flag  of  America,  as  can  never  be  done 
under  the  flag  of  France.  This  is  not  theory,  for  I 
have  proved  it  by  my  experience ;  and  if  I  have  op- 
portunity I  will  yet  prove  it  more  fully. 

"  I  shall  be  happy,  my  lord,  to  be  honored  with 
your  excellency's  determination  as  soon  as  possible, 
as  I  purpose  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  expedition 
to  Philadelphia,  and  as  there  is  no  time  to  lose  in 
preparing  for  the  operations  of  the  next  campaign.'' 

Whether  the  project  submitted  by  Jones  was 
quixotic  or  rational,. the  French  government  could 
not  have  complied  with  his  demands,  such  as  they 
are  intimated  to  have  been  by  the  reply  of  the 
Comte  de  Maurepas,  from  which  the  following  ex- 
tract is  taken  :  "  I  have  examined  and  communicated 
to  M.  de  Sartine  the  project  annexed  to  your  letter, 
and  we  have  no  manner  of  doubt  of  the  good  effect 
that  would  result,  were  it  intrusted  to  3''ou.  But 
at  present  it  could  not  be  said  what  number  of 
frigates  might  be  employed,  they  being  all  actually 
armed  on  account  of  the  king,  and  the  ])lan  of  the 
approaching  campaign  is  not  yet  sufliciently  deter- 
mined, positively  to  say  how  many  frigates  may  be 


238  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

given  to  you.  But  this  need  not  prevent,  if  you 
have  the  consent  of  Congress,  the  execution  of  the 
first  part  of  your  scheme,  to  come  here,  as  you  pro- 
pose, with  the  Alliance  and  the  other  vessels  which 
you  may  have,  and  with  a  sufiicient  American  crew 
to  arm  the  frigates  which  may  join  you.  I  will  en- 
deavor here  to  secure  some  for  you,  or  to  substitute 
privateers  in  their  place.  This  is  all  I  can  inform 
you  of  for  the  present." 

Three  days  before  the  date  of  the  letter  last  re- 
ferred to,  Franklin  had  w^ritten  to  Jones,  sending 
him  his  despatches  by  the  Count  de  Yauban,  and  re- 
questing him  to  sink  them,  if  necessary.  The  fol- 
lowing passage  in  his  letter  deserves  notice,  because 
it  would  appear  that  Jones  had  shown  a  morbid  de- 
gree of  sensibility,  after  the  high  ground  he  had 
taken  and  well  maintained,  to  the  misconceptions  of 
individuals.  "  Depend  upon  it,"  said  the  minister, 
"  I  never  wrote  to  Mr.  Giilon  that  the  Bonhomme 
Richard  was  a  privateer.  I  could  not  write  so ; 
because  I  never  had  such  a  thought.  I  will,  next 
post,  send  you  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  him ;  by  which 
you  will  perceive  that  he  has  only  forced  that  con- 
struction from  a  vague  expression,"  etc.  The  vague 
expression  was  the  mercantile  phrase  "  the  con- 
cerned." 

The  Ariel  lay  at  the  road  of  Groix  when,  on  the 
13th  of  September,  a  month  after  the  date  of  the 
last  letter  that  has  been  quoted,  when  we  find  an 
epistle  from  Jones,  dated  from  on  board,  to  Madame 
la  Presidente  L'Ormoy  :  "  My  particular  thanks  are 


THE  ARIEL.  239 

due  to  you,  madam,  for  the  personal  proofs  I  have 
received  of  your  esteem  and  friendship,  and  for  the 
ha]")piness  you  procured  me  in  the  society  of  the 
charming  countess  and  other  ladies  and  gentlemen 
of  your  circle.  But  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you, 
madam,  which  I  hope  you  will  grant  me.  You  tell 
me  in  your  letter  that  the  inkstand  I  had  the  honor 
to  present  you  as  a  small  token  of  my  esteem  shall 
be  reserved  for  the  purpose  of  writing  what  con- 
cerns me.  J^ow  I  wish  you  to  see  my  idea  in 
a  more  expanded  light,  and  would  have  you 
make  use  of  that  inkstand  to  instruct  mankind 
and  support  the  dignity  and  rights  of  human  na- 
ture." 

Of  Commodore  Jones'  correspondence  with  the 
Parisian  ladies  little  need  be  said,  since  the  copies  of 
the  letters  which  he  carefully  preserved  serve  only 
to  show  his  industry  with  the  pen. 

His  influence  at  court,  real  or  supposed,  was  a 
motive  which,  in  addition  to  his  renown,  prompted 
the  fair  ones  to  smile  on  him.  The  Countess  de 
Lavendahl  painted  a  miniature  of  him,  and  gave  him 
her  own.  Certain  letters  were  published  in  the 
English  press  at  this  period,  which  were  ascribed  to 
a  young  English  lady.  Miss  Edes,  residing  at  Ver- 
sailles. We  find  the  following  extracts  from  them 
in  the  Edinburgh  Life : 

"  The  famous  Paul  Jones  dines  and  sups  here  often; 
he  is  a  smart  man  of  thirty-six,  speaks  but  little 
French,  appears  to  be  an  extraordinary  genius,  a 


240  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JOXES. 

poet  as  well  as  a  hero ;  a  few  da^^s  ago  he  wrote 
some  verses  extempore,  of  which  1  send  3^ou  a  copy. 
He  is  greatl}^  admired  here,  especially  by  the  ladies, 
who  are  all  wild   for  love  of  him,  as  he  for  them ; 

but   he  adores  Lady (the  Countess  Lavendahl), 

who  has  honored  him  with  every  mark  of  politeness 
and  distinction." 

"  Yerses  addressed  to  the  ladies  who  have  done  me 
the  honor  of  their  polite  attention  !  " 

"  Presented  by  Paul  Jones  to  Mademoiselle  G ." 

**  Insulted  freedom  bled, — I  felt  her  cause, 
And  drew  my  sword  to  vindicate  her  laws, 
From  principle,  and  not  from  vain  applause. 
I've  done  my  best,  self-interest  far  apart, 
And  self-reproach  a  stranger  to  my  heart ; 
My  zeal  still  prompts,  ambitious  to  pursue 
The  foe,  ye  fair  !  of  liberty  and  you  : 
Grateful  for  praise,  spontaneous  and  unbought, 
A  generous  people's  love  not  meanly  sought ; 
To  merit  this,  and  bend  the  knee  to  beauty, 
Shall  be  my  earliest  and  latest  duty." 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  the  supposed  Miss  Edes 
says :  "  Since  my  last,  Paul  Jones  drank  tea  and 
supped  here.  If  I  am  in  love  with  him,  for  love  I 
may  die  ;  I  have  as  many  rivals  as  there  are  ladies; 
but  the  most  formidable  is  still  Lady (the  Count- 
ess Lavendahl,)  who  possesses  all  his  heart.  This  lady 
is  of  high  rank  and  virtue,  very  sensible,  good-natured, 
and  affable.  Besides  this,  she  is  possessed  of  youth, 
beauty,  and  wit,  and  every  other  female  accomplish- 
ment.    He  is  gone,  I  suppose,  for  America.     They 


THE  ARIEL.  211 

correspond,  and  his  letters  are  replete  with  elegance, 
sentiment,  and  delicacy.  She  drew  his  picture  (a 
striking  likeness),  and  wrote  some  lines  under  it, 
w^hich  are  much  admired.  .  .  .  The  king  has  given 
him  a  magnificent  gold  su'ord,  which,  lest  it  should 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  he  has  begged 
leave  to  commit  to  the  care  of  her  ladyship — a  piece 
of  gallantry  w^hich  is  here  highly  applauded.  If  any 
further  account  of  this  singular  genius  should  reach 
my  hands,  you  shall  have  it." 

On  September  22d  Jones  wrote  to  M.  de  la  Sartine, 
stating  that  he  could  no  longer  be  silent  w^hile  the 
money  due  to  thera  was  withheld  from  his  officers 
and  crew.  "  Two  years,  my  lord,  has  that  hair- 
brained  man  (M.  de  Chaumont)  been  employed  in 
marring  every  idea  of  mine  that  was  calculated  to 
promote  the  common  cause.  ...  If  he  had  not  in- 
terfered with  the  police  of  the  squadron,  not  be- 
trayed the  secret  of  its  intended  operations,  very  es- 
sential services  might  have  been  rendered  to  the 
common  cause.  I  verily  believe  the  Baltic  fleet 
could  never  have  entered  the  ports  of  England  ;  and 
I  am  certain  that  Leith  and  Edinburgh  would  have 
been  laid  under  a  heavy  contribution,  and  the  mer- 
chant shipping  of  some  of  the  principal  harbors  of 
England  burnt  to  ashes.  If  the  Baltic  fleet  had  not 
entered  the  ports  of  England,  Admiral  Eodney  would 
not  have  sailed,  and  the  flag  of  Spain  would  now 
have  waved  over  the  ramparts  of  Gibraltar."  M.  de 
Chaumont  was  the  cause,  certainly,  of  some  strong 

negatives  and  long  inferences. 
i6 


242  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

We  shall  now  follow  Jones'  Journal.  "  He  obtained 
a  crew  for  the  Ariel,  that  was  ordered  by  govern- 
ment to  be  fully  armed  and  equipped.  He  embarked 
such  a  quantity  of  arms  and  powder  as,  with  provi- 
sion for  only  nine  weeks,  filled  the  ship  even  be- 
tween decks.  He  hoped  to  make  the  passage  in  a 
favorable  season  of  the  year,  but  was  detained  by 
contrary  and  stormy  winds  in  the  road  of  Groix 
from  the  4th  of  September  till  the  8th  of  Octo- 
ber. 

He  then  sailed  with  a  fair  v^ind  and  pleasant 
weather ;  but  the  next  night  the  Ariel  was  driven  by 
a  violent  tempest  close  to  the  rocks  of  the  Penmarque, 
a  terrible  ledge  between  L'Orient  and  Brest.  The 
ship  could  show  no  sail,  but  was  almost  buried  under 
the  water,  not  having  room  to  run  before  the  wind, 
and  havino:  several  feet  of  water  in  the  hold.  Find- 
ing  the  depth  of  water  diminish  fast.  Captain  Jones, 
in  the  last  extremity,  cast  anchor ;  but  could  not 
bring  the  ship's  head  to  the  wind.  Sometimes  the 
lower  yard-arms  touched  the  water. 

Captain  Jones  now  had  no  remedy  left,  but  to  cut 
awav  the  foremast.  This  had  the  desired  eifect ;  and 
the  ship  immediately  came  head  to  the  wind.  The 
main-mast  had  got  out  of  the  step,  and  now  reeled 
about  like  a  drunken  man.  Foreseeing  the  danger 
of  its  breaking  off  below  the  gun-deck,  or  going 
through  the  ship's  bottom.  Captain  Jones  ordered  it 
to  be  cut  away.  But  before  this  could  be  done,  the 
chain-plates  gave  way,  and  the  main-mast  (breaking 
off  by  the  gun-deck,  carried  with  it  the  mizzen-mast ; 


THE  ARIEL.  243 

and    the  mizzen-mast  carried   away    the    quarter- 
gallery. 

In  that  situation,  the  Ariel  rode  in  the  open 
ocean,  to  ^Yind^vard  of  perhaps  the  most  dangerous 
ledge  of  rocks  in  the  world,  for  two  days  and  near 
three  nights,  in  a  tempest  that  covered  the  shore 
with  wrecks  and  dead  bodies,  and  that  drove  ships 
ashore,  from  their  anchors,  even  in  the  port  of 
L'Orient.  It  was  perhaps  fortunate  tliat  the  Ariel 
lost  her  masts,  since  no  anchors  could  have  held  her, 
so  long  had  the  masts  stood.  By  the  help  of  jury- 
masts,  erected  after  the  gale,  the  Ariel  returned  to 
L'Orient. 

This  terrible  gale  was  felt  over  nearly  all  Europe. 
Jones  spoke  thus  of  it  in  a  letter  to  the  Presidente 
L'Ormoy,  dated  October  16th  :  '•  By  the  inclosed 
declaration  of  my  officers,  3^ou  will  see,  my  dear 
madam,  that  I  was  in  a  ticklish  situation  in  the 
moment  while  you  were  employed  in  writing  to  me 
on  the  9th  ultimo.  It  is  impossible  to  be  more 
sensible  than  I  am  of  the  obligation  conferred  on 
me  by  your  attentions  and  kind  remembrances,  joined 
to  that  of  the  belle  comtesses,  your  fair  daughters, 
and  the  amiable  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  yoursocietv. 
I  have  returned  without  laurels,  and,  what  is  worse, 
without  having  been  able  to  render  service  to  the 
glorious  cause  of  liberty.  I  know  not  why  JSTeptune 
was  in  such  anger,  unless  he  thought  it  an  affront 
in  me  to  appear  on  his  ocean  with  so  insignificant  a 
force.  It  is  certain  that,  till  the  night  of  the  8th,  I 
did  not  fully  conceive  the  awful  majesty  of  tempest 


244  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

and  of  shipwreck.  I  can  ^ive  you  no  just  idea  of 
the  tremendous  scene  that  nature  then  presented, 
which  surpassed  the  reach  even  of  poetic  fancy  and 
the  pencil.  I  believe  no  ship  was  ever  before  saved 
from  an  equal  danger  off  the  point  of  the  Penmarque 
rocks." 

The  arrival  of  the  Alliance  in  America,  referred 
to  in  this  letter,  had  been  announced  to  Franklin  by 
Dr.  Cooper  of  Boston,  who  ^\  rote  to  him  on  the  8th 
of  September  as  follows : 

"  The  Alliance  arrived  here  some  weeks  ago,  with 
Dr.  Lee,  who  is  still  in  town.  This  vessel  appears 
to  me  to  have  left  France  in  an  unjustifiable  manner, 
though  I  cannot  yet  obtain  the  particular  circum- 
stances. Landais  did  not  hold  his  command  ttirouofh 
the  voyage,  which  was  either  relinquished  by  him 
or  wrested  from  him.  All  the  passengers,  as  well  as 
officers  and  sailors,  are  highly  incensed  against  him, 
and  Dr.  Lee  as  much  as  any  one.  A  court  of  in- 
quiry is  now  sitting  upon  this  matter,  in  which  the 
Doctor  has  given  full  evidence  against  the  captain, 
which  represents  him  as  insane." 

The  result  of  this  court  of  inquiry  was,  that 
Landais  was  dismissed  from  the  service  of  the  United 
States.  Jones  not  being  in  America  to  substantiate 
them,  the  more  serious  charges  were  not  urged 
against  him,  and  he  was  consigned  to  insignificance. 

It  was  found  on  examination  that  the  arms  on 
board  of  the  Ariel,  which  were  the  most  valuable 


THE  ARIEL.  245 

part  of  her  stores,  were  so  much  damaged  that  it 
was  necessary  to  unship  and  leave  them  ;  and  she 
was  so  much  disabled  that,  though  Jones  wrote  to 
Franklin  on  the  13th  of  October  that  the  repairs 
had  been  commenced  with  great  activity,  by  the  as- 
sistance of  the  commandant  of  the  marine,  she  was 
not  ready  for  sea  until  December. 

The  new  expenses  thus  incurred  tried  severely  the 
patience  of  the  prudent  Franklin,  and  he  directed 
the  necessary  advances  to  be  made  with  a  heavy 
heart.  He  was  again  obliged  to  expostulate  with 
the  commodore.  Jones  used  every  effort,  through 
his  friends  at  court,  to  obtain  the  Terpsicore,  and 
endeavored  to  induce  Mr.  Silas  Deane,  and  Dr. 
Bancroft  to  assist  him  in  his  application  to  the  Mar- 
quis de  Castries,  who  was  now  minister  of  the  marine. 
Eut,  he  says  in  his  Journal,  '^  The  noblemen  on  whose 
interest  he  had  chiefly  depended  being  absent,  the 
application  failed."  The  Terpsicore  was  destined 
to  carry  despatches  to  the  East  Indies. 

By  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Board  of  Admiralty, 
on  the  26th  of  October,  it  appears  that  at  this  time 
a  difficulty  took  place  on  the  score  of  rank  between 
Commodore  Jones  and  the  celebrated  Captain  Trux- 
tun.  He  says :  "  I  send  a  letter  I  received  from 
Mr.  Triixtun,  the  master  of  the  Independence,  of 
Philadelphia,  dated  the  24th,  Avith  ray  answer. 
Yesterday  and  to-day  he  has  had  the  insolence  to 
hoist  a  broad  pennant,  notwithstanding.  Is  not  this 
bidding  defiance  to  Congress  and  the  continental 
flag  ?    Congress  will  judge  what  punishment  is  equal 


246  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

to  such  a  crime,  when  committed  in  sight  of  the 
flag  and  forts  of  an  illustrious  ally." 

Captain  Truxtun,  according  to  the  Naval  Chroni- 
cles, was  sailing  in  a  private  armed  ship,  and  had 
only  the  commission  of  a  letter  of  marque.  Whether 
any  further  notice  was  taken  of  this  incident,  we 
are  unable  to  say. 

'No  prize  money  had  as  yet  been  forthcomiDg. 
On  the  24th  of  November  Jones  wrote  to  M.  le 
Hay  de  Chaumont  as  follows  :  "  If  you  have  received 
the  produce  of  the  sale  of  the  prizes,  I  request  3^ou 
to  pay  the  part  thereof  belonging  to  the  officers  and 
crews  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard  and  the  Alliance 
into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Gourlade  and  Moylan, 
their  legal  agents,"  etc. 

The  demand,  it  will  be  observed,  was  made  upon 
a  contingency.  Jones  desired  that  his  own  share 
of  the  prize  money,  both  as  chief  of  the  squadron 
and  captain  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  might  be 
paid  to  Dr.  Franklin  and  Dr.  Bancroft,  his  lawful 
attorneys ;  and  reclaimed  payment  of  the  wages  due 
to  the  seamen  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard  who  had 
been  forcibly  carried  awa}^  in  the  Alliance.  These 
wages,  it  will  be  remembered,  Franklin  thought 
ought  to  be  paid  in  America. 

Jones  wrote  to  the  same  purport,  to  the  Marquis 
de  Castries,  on  the  same  day.  In  relation  to  this 
matter  of  the  prize  money,  it  has  not  been  hereto- 
fore explicitly  stated  that  the  few  prizes  sent  into 
the  ports  of  France,  by  the  expedition  before  it 
entered  the  Texel,  had  been  sold,  and  the  proceeds 


THE  ARIEL.  247 

remitted  a  year  previously  to  M.  Chaumont,  upon 
his  order  by  Messrs.  Gourlade  and  Moylan.  Jones 
wrote  to  the  minister  :  "  By  virtue  of  the  authority 
1  had  received  from  government,  my  honor  was 
pledged  to  see  these  men  justly  paid.  I  have  already 
suffered  many  reflections  on  their  account,  and  I 
beseech  your  excellency  to  order  them  immediate 
payment." 

Dr.  Franklin  had  been  confined  to  his  bed,  at  this 
time  for  some  weeks.  He  wrote  to  Jones  on  the 
4:th  of  December,  telling  him,  "I  shall  strongly 
solicit  the  payment  of  the  prize  money,  which  I  un- 
derstand is  not  yet  received  from  the  king.  I  hope 
soon  to  see  an  end  of  that  affair,  which  has  met 
with  so  many  unaccountable  obstructions.  I  enclose 
despatches  for  Congress,  which  are  to  be  sunk  in 
case  of  danger.  I  wish  you  to  make  the  best  of 
your  w^ay  to  America,  and  that  you  may  have  a 
prosperous  voyage." 

By  waiting  for  further  despatches  which  M. 
Gourlade  informed  him  were  to  be  sent,  Jones  lost 
a  favorable  wind,  and  did  not  sail  until  the  18th  of 
this  month.  As  before,  he  made  his  valedictory 
compliments  to  Madame  la  Presidente  D'Ormoy. 
In  his  letter  he  says :  "  I  am  much  flattered  by  your 
having  mentioned  me  to  so  great  a  man  as  the  king 
of  Prussia— the  world  will  ever  treat  his  opinion 
wdth  the  highest  respect." 

On  the  18th  of  December  he  says  in  his  Journal, 
he  "  bade  adieu  to  the  beloved  nation  of  France ; 
where,  though  he  had  met  with  some  difficulties,  he 


248  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

had  many  reasons  to  be  satisfied,  and  was  charmed 
with  the  courteous  behavior  that  so  nobly  marked 
the  character  of  that  generous-minded  people.  .  .  . 
Having  important  despatches  on  board,  and  being 
besides  much  lumbered  he  had  determined  to  steer 
directly  for  America,  and  wished  rather  to  avoid 
than  seek  after  the  enemy." 

He  did,  however,  meet  the  enemy,  and  gained 
another  victory,  though  the  fruits  of  it  were  lost  by 
baseness. 

"  After  a  variety  of  rencontres,  he  in  the  latitude 
26°  north,  and  longitude  of  Barbadoes,  met  with  a 
remarkably  fast  sailing  frigate  belonging  to  the 
enemy's  navy.  Captain  Jones  endeavored  to  avoid 
speaking  with  that  ship,  and  as  the  night  approached 
he  hoped  to  succeed,  notwithstanding  her  superior 
sailing.  He  was,  however,  mistaken ;  for  next 
morning  the  ships  were  at  a  less  distance  asunder 
than  they  had  been  the  evening  before,  although 
during  the  night  the  officers  of  the  watch  had  always 
informed  Captain  Jones  the  sail  continued  out  of 
sight. 

"  An  action  now  became  unavoidable,  and  the 
Ariel  was  prepared  for  it.  Everything  was  thrown 
overboard  that  interfered  with  the  defense  and 
safety  of  the  ship.  Captain  Jones  took  particular 
care,  by  the  management  of  sails  and  helm,  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  discovering  the  force  of  the 
Ariel,  and  worked  her  so  well  as  not  to  discover  any 
warlike  appearance  or  preparation. 


THE  ARIEL.  249 

"In  the  afternoon,  the  Ariel  fired  now  and  then 
a  light  stern-chaser  at  the  enemy  from  the  quarter- 
deck, and  continued  to  crowd  sail  as  if  very  much 
alarmed.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  the  enemy 
pursued  with  the  greater  eagerness.  Captain  Jones 
did  not  suffer  the  enemy  to  come  close  up  till  the 
approach  of  night,  when,  having  well  examined  his 
force,  he  shortened  sail  to  meet  his  approach. 

''  When  the  two  ships  came  within  hail  of  each 
other  they  both  hoisted  English  colors.  The  person 
whose  duty  it  was  to  hoist  the  pennant  on  board  the 
Ariel  had  not  taken  care  to  make  the  other  end  of 
the  halliards  fast,  to  haul  it  down  again  to  change 
the  colors.  This  prevented  Jones  from  an  advan- 
tageous maneuver  he  had  intended,  and  obliged 
him  to  let  the  enemy  range  up  along  the  lee-side  of 
the  Ariel,  where  he  saw  a  battery  lighted  for  action. 

"  A  conversation  now  took  place  between  the  two 
ships,  w4iich  lasted  near  an  hour  ;  by  which  Captain 
Jones  learned  the  situation  of  the  enemy's  affairs  in 
America.  The  captain  of  the  enemy's  ship  said  his 
name  was  John  Pindar.  His  ship  had  been  con- 
structed by  the  famous  Mr.  Peck  of  Boston,  built  at 
Newbur3"port,  owned  by  Mr.  Tracey  of  that  place, 
commanded  by  Captain  Hopkins,  the  son  of  the  late 
Commodore  Hopkins,  and  had  been  fitted  out  at 
New  York,  and  named  the  Triumph,  by  Admiral 
Rodney. 

*'  Captain  Jones  told  him  he  must  put  out  his  boat, 
and  come  on  board  and  show  his  commission,  to 
prove  whether  or  not  he  really  did  belong  to  the 


250  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

British  navy.  To  this  he  made  some  excuses,  be- 
qause  Captain  Jones  had  not  told  him  who  he  was  ; 
and  his  boat,  he  said,  was  very  leaky :  Captain 
Jones  told  him  to  consider  the  danger  of  refusing. 

"  Captain  Pindar  said  he  would  answer  for  twenty 
guns,  and  that  himself  and  every  one  of  his  people 
had  shown  themselves  Englishmen.  Captain  Jones 
said  he  would  allow  him  five  minutes  only  to  make 
his  reflection.  That  time  being  elapsed,  Captain 
Jones  backed  a  little  in  the  weather-quarter  of  the 
enemy,  ran  close  under  her  stern,  hoisted  American 
colors,  and  being  within  short  pistol  shot  on  the  lee- 
beam  of  the  enemy,  began  to  engag.e. 

"  It  was  past  seven  o'clock,  and  as  no  equal  force 
ever  exceeded  the  vigorous  and  regular  fire  of  the 
Ariel's  battery  and  tops,  the  action  while  it  lasted 
made  a  glorious  appearance.  The  enemy  made  a 
feeble  resistance  for  about  ten  minutes.  He  then 
struck  his  colors. 

'^  The  enemy  then  begged  for  quarter,  and  said 
half  his  men  were  killed.  The  Ariel's  fire  ceased, 
and  the  crew,  as  usual  after  a  victory,  gave  cries  of 
joy.  To  'show  themselves  Englishmen,'  the  enemy 
filled  their  sails  and  got  on  the  Ariel's  weatherbow 
before  the  cries  of  joy  had  ended  on  board  the  Ariel. 

"  Captain  Jones,  suspecting  the  base  design  of  the 
enemy,  immediately  set  every  sail  he  could  to  pre- 
vent her  escape  ;  but  the  enemy  had  so  much  advan- 
tage in  sailing  that  the  Ariel  could  not  keep  up,  and 
they  soon  got  out  of  gun-shot. 

"The  English  captain  may  properly  be  called  a 


THE  ARIEL.  251 

knave,  because,  after  he  surrendered  his  ship,  begged 
for  and  obtained  quarter,  he  basely  ran  away,  con- 
trary to  the  laws  of  naval  war  and  the  practise  of 
civilized  nations. 

"  A  conspiracy  was  discovered  among  the  English 
part  of  the  Ariel's  crew  immediately  after  sailing 
from  France.  During  the  voyage  every  officer,  and 
even  the  passengers,  had  been  constantly  armed,  and 
kept  a  regular  watch,  besides  a  constant  guard  with 
fixed  bayonets.  After  the  action  w^ith  the  Triumph 
the  plot  was  so  far  discovered  that  Captain  Jones 
confined  twenty  of  the  ringleaders  in  irons  till  his 
arrival.  Captain  Jones  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  18th  of  February,  1781,  having  been  absent 
from  America  three  years,  three  months,  and 
eighteen  days." 


252  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 


SEEKING    DUTY. 


The  year  1781  was  to  Jones  a  period  of  reward 
for  past  services  and  disappointments,  of  grateful 
and  honorable  repose  after  long  and  harassing  per- 
plexities, and  of  well  founded  expectation  of  a  dis- 
tinguished command  in  future. 

Jones  landed  at  Philadelphia  on  the  ISth  of 
February.  On  the  following  day  a  motion  was 
offered  that  he  should  appear  in  Congress  to  give  all 
the  information  in  his  power  relative  to  the  deten- 
tion of  the  clothing  and  arms  in  France,  intended 
for  Washington's  army,  and  that  the  doors  should 
be  open  during  the  examination.  After  debate,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Adams,  the  consideration  of  this 
proposition  was  postponed.  A  regular  inquiry  into 
many  particulars  of  Jones'  cruises,  from  November, 
1777,  when  he  left  Portsmouth  in  the  Ranger,  was 
necessary,  and  in  course  ;  and,  on  the  20th,  forty- 
seven  questions  were  drawn  up  by  the  Board  of 
Admiralty,  which  he  was  required  to  answer  as 
soon  as  possible.  Two  of  the  questions  were  after- 
wards extended,  to  enable  his  formal  answers  to 
meet  every  point  of  interrogator}^,  which  he  did 
"with  singular  promptness ;  but  before  such  formal 


SEEKING  DUTY.  253 

reply  was,  or  could  have  been,  rendered,  the  letter  of 
M.  de  la  Sartine  had  been  referred  to  a  committee, 
upon  whose  report  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  on  the  27th : 

**  Resolved,  That  the  Congress  entertains  a  high 
sense  of  the  distinguished  bravery  and  military  con- 
duct of  John  Paul  Jones,  Esq.,  captain  in  the  navy 
of  the  United  States,  and  particularly  in  his  victory 
over  the  British  frigate  Serapis,  on  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land, which  was  attended  with  circumstances  so  bril- 
liant as  to  excite  general  ap])lause  and  admiration. 

"  That  the  Minister  Plenipotentiary^  of  these 
United  States  at  the  Court  of  Yersailles  communi- 
cate to  his  most  Christian  Majesty  the  high  satisfac- 
tion Congress  has  received  from  the  conduct  and 
gallant  behavior  of  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  which 
have  merited  the  attention  and  approbation  of  his 
most  Christian  Majesty,  and  that  his  Majesty's 
offer  of  adorning  Captain  Jones  with  a  cross  of 
military  merit  is  highly  acceptable  to  Congress." 

On  the  28th  of  March  the  Board  of  Admiralty 
made  a  report,  purporting  to  be  in  pursuance  of  two 
resolutions  of  Congress,  passed  in  the  previous  year, 
inquiring  into  the  causes  of  the  delay  in  the  arrival 
of  the  stores  and  clothing.  They  stated  that  the 
procrastinated  investigation  had  been  resumed  on 
the  arrival  of  Jones,  and  that  on  propounding  their 
questions  to  him,  with  a  view  to  a  full  explanation, 
they  had  desired  him  "  to  subjoin  to  his  answers  all 


254:  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

such  matters  as  he  might  think  would  throw  light 
on  their  inquiry."  The  questions  and  answers  accom- 
panied the  report,  with  the  voluminous  correspond- 
ence of  Jones,  referred  to  in  the  margin  of  th© 
answers,  where  immediately  connected  with  them, 
the  rest  being  arranged  in  four  bundles. 

The  board  were  "  fully  satisfied  "  that  the  delay 
"  had  not  been  owing  in  any  measure  to  a  want  of 
the  closest  attention  to  that  business,  either  in  the 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  or  to 
Captain  Jones,  who  had,  on  the  contrary,  made 
every  application  and  used  every  effort  to  accom- 
plish that  purpose  ;  but  that  it  was  owing  to  Captain 
Landais'  taking  the  command  of  the  Alliance,  con- 
trary to  the  express  orders  of  Dr.  Franklin,  and 
proceeding  with  her  to  America." 

It  then  set  forth  the  sentence  of  the  court-martial 
held  on  Landais,  and  that,  after  he  had  been  dis- 
missed from  the  service,  a  further  prosecution  was 
deemed  improper  ;  that  Jones  had  vainl}^  endeavored 
to  procure  an  additional  vessel  for  the  transportation 
of  the  clothing ;  that  the  court  of  France  had  fur- 
nished no  money  to  the  American  minister  to  enable 
him  to  procure  clothing ;  that  they  had  commissioned 
M.  le  Eay  de  Chaumont  to  do  so,  and  that  Mr.  J. 
Williams  of  Nantes,  and  Messrs.  Gourlade  and 
Moylon  acted  solely  under  his  orders.  They  acquit- 
ted Jones  of  negligence  in  suffering  the  brig  Luke  to 
sail  from  L'Orient,  with  a  part  of  this  clothing  on 
board,  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  without  waiting 
for  the  convoy  of  the  Ariel,  as  he  had  not  been 


SEEKING  DUTY.  255 

spoken  to  by  Gourlade  and  Moylan,  and  had  no 
control  over  her  himself. 

They  then,  after  enumerating  the  actions  of 
Jones,  reported  that  "ever  since  he  first  became 
an  officer  in  the  navy  of  these  States,  he  hath  shown 
an  unremitted  attention  in  planning  and  executing 
enterprises  calculated  to  promote  the  essential  in- 
terests of  our  glorious  cause.  That  in  Europe, 
although  in  his  expedition  through  the  Irish  Chan- 
nel in  the  Kanger  he  did  not  fully  accomplish  his 
purpose,  yet  he  made  the  enemy  feel  that  it  is  in 
the  power  of  a  small  squadron,  under  a  brave  and 
enterprising  commander,  to  retaliate  the  confla- 
grations of  our  defenseless  towns.  That  returning 
from  Europe,  he  brought  with  him  the  esteem  of 
the  greatest  and  best  friends  of  America ;  and  hath 
received  from  the  illustrious  monarch  of  France 
that  reward  of  warlike  virtue  which  his  subjects 
receive  by  a  long  series  of  faithful  services  or  un- 
common merit. 

"  The  board  are  of  opinion  that  the  conduct  of 
Paul  Jones  merits  particular  attention  and  some 
distinguished  mark  of  approbation  from  the  United 
States  in  Congress  assembled." 

The  report  of  the  board  of  admiralty,  having 
been  referred  to  a  committee,  on  the  coming  in  of 
their  report  Congress  passed  the  following  resolu- 
tions on  the  14:th  of  April : 

"  Eesolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled  be  given  to  Captain  John 


256  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Paul  Jones,  for  the  zeal,  prudence  and  intrepidity 
with  which  he  has  supported  the  honor  of  the 
American  flag;  for  his  bold  and  successful  enter- 
prises to  redeem  from  captivity  the  citizens  of  the 
States  who  had  fallen  under  the  power  of  the  enemy  ; 
and  in  general  for  the  good  conduct  and  eminent 
services  by  which  he  has  added  luster  to  his  char- 
acter, and  to  the  American  arms : 

"  That  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  of  America 
in  Congress  assembled,  be  also  given  to  the  officers 
and  men  who  have  faithfully  served  under  him 
from  time  to  time,  for  their  steady  affection  to  the 
cause  of  their  country,  and  the  bravery  and  persever- 
ance they  have  manifested  therein." 

The  next  in  order  of  these  truly  glorious  testi- 
monials, is  a  letter  from  the  father  of  his  country : 

"  Headquarters,  !N'ew  "Windsor, 
May  15th,  1781. 
"Sir,— 

"  My  partial  acquaintance  with  either  our  naval 
or  commercial  affairs  makes  it  altogether  impossible 
for  me  to  account  for  the  unfortunate  delay  of  those 
articles  of  military  stores  and  clothing  which  have 
been  so  long  provided  in  France. 

"  Had  I  had  any  particular  reasons  to  have  sus- 
pected you  of  being  accessory  to  that  delay,  which  I 
assure  j^ou  has  not  been  the  case,  my  suspicions 
would  have  been  removed  by  the  very  full  and  satis- 
factory answers  which  you  have,  to  the  best  of  my 


SEEKING  DUTY.  257 

knowledge,  made  to  the  questions  proposed  to  you 
b}^  the  board  of  admiralty,  and  upon  which  that 
board  has  in  its  report  to  Congress,  testified  the 
high  sense  which  they  entertain  of  your  merits  and 
services. 

"  Whether  our  naval  affairs  have  in  general  been 
well  or  ill-conducted  would  be  presumptuous  in  me 
to  determine.  Instances  of  bravery  and  good  con- 
duct in  several  of  our  officers  have  not,  however, 
been  wanting.  Delicacy  forbids  me  to  mention  that 
particular  one  which  has  attracted  the  admiration 
of  all  the  world,  and  which  has  influenced  the  most 
illustrious  monarch  to  confer  a  mark  of  favor  which 
can  only  be  obtained  by  a  long  and  honorable 
service,  or  by  the  performance  of  some  brilliant 
action. 

"  That  you  may  long  enjoy  the  reputation  you 
have  so  justly  acquired  is  the  sincere  wish  of, 
"  Sir,  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  Geo.  Washington." 

With  such  expressions  of  official  and  public  ap- 
probation in  his  favor,  Jones  says  in  his  journal, 
that  he  addressed  Congress  on  the  28th  of  May, 
but  "  modestly  rested  his  pretensions  to  rank  only 
on  the  commission  he  held  as  the  eldest  of  the  first 
grades  of  lieutenants  in  the  navy,  under  the  United 
Colonies ;  because  by  all  rule  and  example  of  mili- 
tary promotion,  that  commission  entitled  him  to 
rank  before  all  persons  who  did  not  enter  into  the 
sea  service  of  the  continent  as  earlv  as  himself, 
«7 


258  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

unless  preference  had  been  given  to  other  gentle- 
men on  account  of  their  known  superior  abilities, 
which  had  not  been  the  case.  Congress  referred 
the  application  to  the  Honorable  Messrs.  Yarnum, 
Mathews,  and  Clymer. 

"Mr.  Yarnum,  the  chairman  informed  Captain 
Jones  that  the  committee  agreed  in  opinion,  and 
would  report  to  Congress,  that  he  had  been  very  un- 
fairly treated  in  the  arrangement  of  naval  rank, 
adopted  October  10th,  1776 ;  and  that  the  conduct 
and  services  of  Captain  Jones  had  merited  that  he 
should  be  promoted  to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral. 
But  before  Congress  had  time  to  act  upon  the  report 
of  their  committee,  opposition  was  made  to  the  ap- 
plication of  Captain  Jones,  by  one  or  two  captains 
whose  names  had  been  placed  before  his  on  their 
first  introduction  to  the  sea  service  of  the  continent. 
Upon  this  Congress  recommitted  the  report.  But 
this  did  not,  however,  lessen  the  pretensions  of 
Captain  Jones,  either  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee 
or  of  Congress." 

This  remark  is  verified  by  the  acts  of  that  body. 
On  the  16th  of  June,  the  following  report  was  made 
from  the  admiralty  office : 

"The  board,  to  whom  was  referred  the  letters 
and  other  papers  relative  to  the  conduct  of  John 
Paul  Jones,  Esq.,  beg  leave  to  report  that  they  have 
carefully  perused  said  letters  and  papers,  wherein 
they  find  favorable  mention  is  made  of  his  abilities 


SEEKING  DUTY.  259 

as  an  officer  by  the  Duke  de  Yauguyon,  M.  de  Sar- 
tine,  and  Dr.  Franklin  ;  and  this  is  also  corroborated 
by  that  valor  and  intrepidity  with  which  he  engaged 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship,  the  Serapis,  of  forty- 
four  cannon,  twelve  and  eighteen-pounders,  which 
after  a  severe  contest  for  several  hours,  surrendered 
to  his  superior  valor  thereby  acquiring  honor  to 
himself  and  dignity  to  the  American  flag. 

"  The  board  therefore  humbly  conceive  that  an 
honorable  testimony  should  be  given  to  Captain 
Paul  Jones,  commander  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard, 
his  officers  and  crew,  for  their  many  singular  services 
in  annoying  the  enemy  on  the  British  coasts,  and 
particularly  for  their  spirited  behavior  in  an  engage- 
ment with  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship-of-war,  the 
Serapis,  on  the  23d  of  September  17Y9,  and  oblig- 
ing her  to  surrender  to  the  American  flag." 

On  the  23d  of  June,  it  was  resolved,  that  Kobert 
Morris,  Esq.,  should  be  authorized  to  take  measures 
for  speedily  launching  and  equipping  for  sea  the 
ship  America,  then  on  the  stocks  at  Portsmouth  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  that  Congress  should  proceed, 
three  days  thereafter,  to  the  appointment  of  a  com- 
mander for  that  vessel. 

Accordingly,  on  the  26th,  the  following  entry  is 
found  in  the  journals :  '^  Congress  proceeded  to  the 
appointment  of  a  captain,  to  command  the  ship 
America ;  and,  the  ballots  being  taken,  John  P. 
Jones,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  elected."  Jones  says, 
that  other  captains  had  been  put  in  nomination 


260  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

against  him ;  and  as  the  new  ship  was  the  onl}^  one 
of  the  line  then  belonging  to  this  government,  the 
competition  for  the  command  was  in  fact  a  test  of 
the  disposition  Congress  would  make  of  the  delicate 
question  of  rank. 

It  was  more  agreeable  to  Captain  Jones  to  be  so 
honorably  elected  captain  of  the  line,  than  to  have 
been,  as  was  proposed  by  the  committee,  raised  at  once 
to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral ;  because  Congress  had 
not  then  the  means  of  giving  him  a  command  suita- 
ble to  that  rank. 

The  Board  of  Admiralty  was  dissolved  at  this  time, 
and  Mr.  Morris,  minister  of  finance,  became  also 
minister  of  the  marine.  He  directed  Jones,  before 
proceeding  to  take  command  of  the  America,  to  ex- 
hibit his  accounts  to  Congress.  He  had  received  a 
small  share  of  prize  money  from  some  of  his  captures, 
but  not  a  farthing  for  pay  or  subsistence  up  to  this 
period. 

His  accounts  were  approved  as  exhibited  ;  "  but," 
he  says,  "  there  was  no  interest  allowed  for  consid- 
erable advances  that  had  been  made  for  nearly  five 
years ;  nor  was  there  anything  allowed  for  his  sub- 
sistence, or  the  various  losses  he  had  sustained  in  the 
service,  as  he  had,  from  delicacy,  left  those  items 
blank  in  his  accounts.''  He  was  personally  embar- 
rassed at  this  time,  as  were  many  of  the  gallant  men 
who  were  putting  at  stake  all  present  interest  and 
future  hopes,  in  the  cause  of  independence  by  the 
poverty  of  the  government. 

He  was  assured  that  ways  and  means  would  be 


SEEKING  DUTY.  261 

provided  for  hira  to  put  to  sea,  within  six  months 
from  the  day  of  his  election,  as  commander  of  the 
America.  He  conferred  with  Mr.  Morris  on  the  plan 
he  had  suggested  to  the  French  ministry,  of  forming 
a  light  combined  squadron  to  annoy  the  enemy  ;  and 
that  gentleman  assented  to  its  utility. 

The  chevalier  left  Philadelphia,  as  he  expresses 
himself,  "with  a  pleasing  hope  of  being  soon  in  a 
situation  that  would  enable  him  to  manifest  his  grati- 
tude for  the  honors  he  had  received,  by  renderino* 
essential  services  to  the  common  cause  of  America 
and  France." 

On  his  way  to  Portsmouth  he  paid  a  visit  to  Gen- 
eral Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau,  at  White 
Plains,  where  the  combined  armies  were  encamped. 
He  wore  his  cross  as  Chevalier  of  the  Order  of  Merit, 
on  this  occasion ;  but  he  says,  as  it  was  hinted  to 
him  that  he  might  offend  the  people  of  the  Eastern 
States  by  continuing  to  exhibit  that  article,  he  laid 
it  aside  as  soon  as  he  had  left  headquarters. 

Hethusproceeds  with  his  commentaries:  "On  his 
arrival  at  Portsmouth,  which  was  at  the  end  of 
August,  he  found  his  prospects  greatly  circumscribed, 
and  involved  in  many  difficulties,  that  neither  his 
friends  nor  himself  had  foreseen  at  Philadelphia. 
The  America,  instead  of  being  ready  to  be  launched, 
was  not  half  built;  and  there  was  neither  timber, 
iron,  nor  any  other  material  prepared  for  finishing 
her.  Money  would  not  have  procured  the  necessary 
articles  of  equipment  and  men  before  winter. 
But  money  was  wanting ;  for  the  navy  board  at 


262  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Boston  had  otherwise  applied  the  funds,  which  the 
minister  of  finance  had  destined  for  the  America ; 
and  he  had  so  many  demands  to  meet,  on  account 
of  the  troops  then  detached  from  "White  Plains  on 
the  secret  expedition  against  Lord  Cornwallis  in  Vir- 
ginia, that  he  found  it  impossible  to  make  the  neces- 
sary advances.  The  business  was,  however,  begun  im- 
mediately and  some  progress  made  in  the  construction 
before  the  winter. 

The  capitulation  of  Cornwallis  in  the  middle  of 
October,  and  the  events  preceding  and  consequent 
upon  it,  formed  the  subjects  of  a  letter  from"  Jones 
to  Lafayette,  as  we  learn  from  the  following  reply, 
dated  December  22d  : 

"  I  have  been  honored  with  your  polite  favor,  my 
dear  Paul  Jones,  but  before  it  reached  me  I  was 
already  on  board  the  Alliance,  and  every  minute  ex- 
pecting to  put  to  sea.  It  would  have  afforded  me 
great  satisfaction  to  pay  my  respects  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  Portsmouth,  and  the  State  in  which  you  are 
for  the  present.  As  to  the  pleasure  to  take  you  by 
thehand,  my  dear  Paul  Jones,  you  know  my  affection- 
ate sentiments,  and  my  very  great  regard  for  you, 
so  that  I  need  not  add  anything  on  that  subject. 

"  Accept  of  my  best  thanks  for  the  kind  expres- 
sion in  your  letter.  His  Lordship's  (Lord  Cornwal- 
lis )  downfall  is  a  great  event,  and  the  greater,  as  it 
was  equally  and  amicably  shared  by  the  two  allied 
nations.  Your  coming  to  the  army  I  had  the  honor 
to  command  would  have  been  considered  as  a  very 


SEEKING  DUTY.  263 

flattering  compliment  to  one  who  loves  you  and 
knows  your  worth.  I  am  impatient  to  hear  that  you 
are  ready  to  sail;  and  I  am  of  opinion  that  we  ought 
to  unite  under  you  every  continental  ship  we  can 
muster,  with  such  a  body  of  well-appointed  marines 
as  might  cut  a  good  figure  ashore,  and  then  give  you 
plenty  of  provisions  and  carte  hlanche. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  see  you ;  I  also  had  many 
things  to  tell  you.  Write  me  by  good  opportunities, 
but  not  often  in  ciphers,  unless  the  matter  is  very 
important." 

Jones  sa3-s  that  the  task  of  inspecting  the  con- 
struction of  the  America  was  "  the  most  lingering 
and  disagreeable  service  he  was  charged  with  during 
the  period  of  the  revolution.  .  .  .  But  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  almost  to  the  end,  of  the  business,  he 
had  a  prospect  of  carrying  into  effect,  by  persever- 
ance the  plan  he  had  suggested  for  forming  a  light 
combined  squadron.  When  the  news  of  the  surren- 
der of  Earl  Cornwallis  reached  Portsmouth,  a  pub- 
lic rejoicing  took  place  ;  and  as  Captain  Jones  found 
it  would  not  offend  the  people,  he,  on  that  glad  occa- 
sion, resumed  the  decoration  of  military  merit,  and 
continued  to  wear  it  afterwards. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  had  advice  that  there  was 
a  prospect  of  finishing  the  America,  various  schemes 
were  suggested  for  destroying  that  ship.  In- 
telligence of  this  was  sent  to  Portsmouth,  in  cipher, 
by  the  minister  of  marine.  Captain  Jones  made 
application  to  the  government  of  New  Hampshire 


264  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

for  a  guard  to  protect  the  vessel ;  and  the  assembly 
passed  a  resolution  to  comply  with  his  demand. 
None  was,  however,  furnished ;  and  as  a  second 
alarm  was  sent  to  New  Hampshire  by  General 
Washington,  Mr.  Hackett,  the  master  builder,  and 
his  associates  were  prevailed  on  to  mount  guard, 
with  a  party  of  the  carpenters,  by  night."  For 
some  time  he  paid  this  guard  himself  ;  and  took 
command  of  it,  in  his  turn,  with  the  master  builders. 
Large  whale  boats,  with  muffled  oars,  came  into  the 
river,  meanwhile,  full  of  men,  "and  passed  and  re- 
passed the  America  in  the  night ;  but  dared  not 
land  on  the  little  island  where  she  'was  built." 

But  this  fair  frigate  was  not  to  be  commanded  by 
him  who  had  watched  her  construction  for  more 
than  a  year,  with  the  hope  of  "  moving  the  monarch 
of  her  peopled  deck."  At  the  close  of  the  sum- 
mer of  this  year,  the  Magnifique,  a  7-i-gun 
ship,  belonging  to  the  French  squadron  under  the 
Marquis  de  Yaudreuil,  w^as  lost  by  accident  in  the 
harbor  of  Boston.  Policy,  and  perhaps  equity, 
rendered  it  expedient  for  Congress  to  present  to 
France  their  solitary  ship  of  the  line  ;  and  a  resolu- 
tion to  that  effect  was  passed  on  the  3d  of 
September. 

Jones  submitted  to  his  disappointment,  for  such 
it  must  have  been,  without  any  ebullitions  of  vexa- 
tion or  murmurs  of  discontent.  In  his  Journal,  he 
says  that  "  he  was  not  made  acquainted  with  the 
minister's  project  for  employing  him  after  the 
America  should   be    launched.     And  the  Act  of 


SEEKING  DUTY.  2^5 

Congress,  September  3d,  after  all  the  pains  he  had 
taken  for  sixteen  months  to  finish  that  ship,  did  not 
even  mention  his  name  ;  which  notice,  it  is  presumed, 
might  not  have  been  inconsistent  with  the  dignity 
of  that  Act,  nor  disagreeable  to  the  monarch  who 
honored  him  with  particular  marks  of  his  attention. 
Captain  Jones  had  had  before  him  no  good  pros- 
pect ;  and  the  America  was  the  tenth  command  of 
which  he  had  been  deprived  in  the  course  of  th© 
Eevolution.  Had  it  been  possible  for  him  to  foresee 
the  lingering,  disagreeable  situation  that  awaited 
him  at  Portsmouth,  he  would  have  thanked  Con- 
gress for  the  honor  they  did  him  by  unanimously 
electing  him  to  that  command,  and  asked  their  per- 
mission to  join  the  army  of  Virginia,  under  his  friend 
the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  who,  by  a  letter  he 
w^rote,  showed  how  glad  he  w^ouldhave  been  of  that 
event,  and  that  his  ideas  corresponded  with  the  plan 
Captain  Jones  had  suggested  to  the  court  of  France, 
for  forming  a  combined  squadron ;  but  which  had 
not  been  communicated  to  the  Marquis. 

Jones  proceeds  in  his  rough  notes  to  say  that  "  he 
urged  forward  the  business  of  launching  the  America 
with  his  utmost  energy.  The  difficulties  were  great. 
The  ship  was  built  on  a  very  small  island,  situated 
in  the  river  opposite  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  belong- 
ing to  the  agent  for  supplying  the  materials.  Be- 
tween the  stern  and  the  opposite  shore,  which  was 
a  continual  rock,  the  distance  was  no  more  than  a 
hundred  fathoms.  From  a  few  feet  above  the  stern, 
a  ledge  of  rocks  projected  two-thirds  of  the  distanco 


266  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

across  the  river,  making  only  an  angle  of  twenty 
degrees  with  the  keel.  And,  from  a  small  bay  on 
the  opposite  shore  the  tide  of  flood  continued  to  run 
with  rapidity,  directly  over  this  ledge,  for  more 
than  an  hour  after  it  was  high  water  by  the  shore. 

"It  was  necessary  to  launch  exactly  at  high 
water,  and  to  give  the  ship  such  a  motion  as  would 
make  her  pass  round  the  point  of  tlie  ledge  of  rocks, 
without  touching  the  opposite  shore  ;  w^iich,  it  is 
easy  to  perceive,  was  a  difficult  matter.  It  was  im- 
possible to  fix  stockades  in  the  river,  on  account  of 
the  current  and  the  rocks.  This  defect  could  only 
be  supplied  by  anchors  and  cables.  A  large  anchor 
was  fixed  in  the  ground  under  the  bow,  from  which 
depended  cables  of  a  proper  length  and  ranged  in  a 
manner  so  as  to  be  drawn  gently  after  the  ship, 
when  put  in  motion,  and  with  various  slight  stop- 
pers at  proper  distances,  to  break  one  after  another, 
so  as  to  diminish  her  velocity  by  degrees. 

"  When  everything  was  prepared,  Captain  Jones 
stood  on  the  highest  part  of  the  brow,  or  gangway, 
that  ascended  from  the  ground  to  the  bow  of  the 
ship.  From  that  position  he  could  perfectly  see  the 
motion  of  the  ship  ;  and  determine  by  a  signal  the 
instant  when  it  was  proper  to  let  go  one  or  both  of 
the  anchors  that  were  hung  at  the  bows,  and  slip  the 
end  of  the  cable  that  depended  on  the  anchor,  fixed 
in  the  ground  on  the  island.  The  operation  suc- 
ceeded perfectly  to  his  wish,  and  to  the  admiration 
of  a  large  assembly  of  spectators." 

The  flags  of  the  two  allies  wxre  displayed  on  the 


SEEKING  DUTY.  267 

poop  at  the  launch ;  and  Jones,  having  caused  the 
ship  to  be  safely  moored,  delivered  her  on  the  same 
day,  November  5th,  to  the  Chevalier  de  Martigne, 
who  had  commanded  the  Magnitique. 

Jones  wrote  to  the  minister  of  marine  on  the  29th 
of  November,  "  requesting  that  unless  Congress  had 
some  service  of  greater  consequence  for  him,  he 
might  be  ordered  back  to  Boston  to  embark  as  a 
volunteer  in  pursuit  of  military  marine  knowledge 
with  his  excellency  the  Marquis  de  Yaudreuil,  in 
order  to  enable  him  the  better  to  serve  his  country, 
when  America  should  increase  her  navy."  On  the 
same  day  Mr.  Morris  sent  to  the  president  of  Con- 
gress a  copy  of  that  letter  with  the  following 
remarks:  "The  present  state  of  affairs  does  not 
permit  me  to  employ  that  valuable  of&cer,  and  I 
confess  that  it  is  with  no  small  degree  of  concern 
that  I  consider  the  little  probability  of  rendering  his 
talents  useful  to  that  country  which  he  has  already 
so  faithfully  served,  and  with  so  great  disinterested- 
ness. 

"  His  present  desire  to  be  sent  with  the  Marquis 
de  Yaudreuil  to  join  Count  d'Estaing  on  his  pro- 
jected expedition  from  Cadiz  against  Jamaica,  etc., 
consists  with  all  his  former  conduct  ;  and  it  will,  I 
dare  say,  be  a  very  pleasing  reflection  to  Congress 
that  he  is  about  to  pursue  a  knowledge  of  his  pro- 
fession, so  as  to  become  still  more  useful  if  ever  he 
should  be  again  called  to  the  command  of  a  squad- 
ron or  fleet.  1  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feel- 
ings, as  well  as  to  my  country,  if  I  did  not  most 


268  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

warmly  recommend  this  gentleman  to  the  notice  of 
Congress,  whose  favor  he  has  certainly  merited  by 
the  most  signal  service  and  sacrifices." 

Congress  granted  the  request  thus  made ;  and 
resolved,  "  that  the  agent  of  marine  be  informed 
that  Congress  having  a  high  sense  of  the  merit  and 
services  of  Captain  J.  P.  Jones,  and  being  disposed 
to  favor  his  zeal  manifested  by  him  to  acquire 
improvement  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  do  grant 
the  permission  which  he  requests,  and  that  the  said 
agent  be  instructed  to  recommend  him  accordingly 
to  the  countenance  of  his  excellency  the  Marquis 
de  Yaudreuil." 

Jones  immediately  repaired  to  Boston,  with  betters 
for  the  Marquis  de  Yaudreuil,  from  Mr.  Morris  and 
the  Chevalier  de  Luzerne.  He  was  received  on 
board  of  the  Triomphante,  the  Marquis'  own  ship, 
with  every  mark  of  attention.  That  vessel  was  very 
much  crowded  by  the  army  of  the  Count  de  Eocham- 
beau,  then  embarked  under  the  orders  of  the  Baron 
de  Viomenil.     Sixty  officers  Avere  at  table  every  day. 

Jones  is  particular  in  recording  that  the  Baron 
and  the  Marquis  de  Laval  were  lodged  in  the  lar- 
board side  of  the  roundhouse  ;  and  that  the  star- 
board side  was  assigned  to  him. 

The  squadron,  consisting  of  ten  sail  of  the  line, 
sailed  on  the  24th  of  December,  and  gave  convoy 
to  several  French  transports  and  twenty  sail  of 
merchantmen.  "  It  was  the  intention  of  the  ad- 
miral to  go  off  Portsmouth  to  join  his  brother  the 
Count  de  Vaudreuil,  who  had  in  that  port,  under 


SEEKING  DUTY.  269 

his  orders,  the  Auguste  of  80  guns,  and  the  Pluton 
of  7-i.  Wind  and  weather  prevented  the  junction, 
and  the  ships-of-war  were  forced  into  a  disagree- 
able situation  in  the  Bay  of  Fun dy,  besides  separat- 
ing from  the  convoy.  Eventually  the  squadron 
steered  to  the  southward,  and  continued  for  ten 
days  off  the  harbor  of  St.  Johns,  in  Porto  Rico,  per- 
forming various  naval  evolutions. 

"  At  making  the  land  the  admiral  had  advice  that 
Admiral  Hood,  with  sixteen  ships  of  the  line,  was 
cruising  off  Cape  Fran9ois  ;  and  that  Admiral  Pigot, 
with  a  greater  force,  lay  at  St.  Lucca.  So  that 
the  enemy  imagined  the  force  under  the  Marquis 
de  Yaudreuil  must  necessarily  fall  a  prey  either  to 
Hood  or  Pigot.  The  marquis  took  sixteen  sail  of 
transports  with  provisions  and  stores,  out  of  a  large 
convoy  then  arrived  from  France  at  St.  Johns,  and 
bore  away  round  the  west  end  of  Porto  Rico. 

The  squadron  steered  to  the  southward,  by  the 
wind,  and  made  the  island  of  Cura^oa  to  windward. 
The  rendezvous  that  had  been  fixed  on  between 
Don  Solano,  the  Spanish  admiral,  and  the  Marquis 
de  Yaudreuil,  at  Cape  Francois,  after  the  defeat  of 
the  Comte  de  Grasse,  was  kept  a  profound  secret, 
and  no  person  had  an  idea  of  the  intended  port. 
The  squadron  beat  to  windward  for  many  days, 
along  the  coast  of  South  America,  without  either 
pilots  or  good  charts.  All  the  transports  were 
driven  to  leeward  by  the  current,  and  lost  sight  of 
the  ships-of-war.  In  the  nitrht,  the  Eurgoyne  of 
74  guns  ran  on  a  rock  two  leagues  from  the  shore, 


270  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

and  was  totally  lost,  with  two  hundred  of  her  offi- 
cers and  men,  among  whom  was  the  first  lieutenant. 
On  the  18th  of  February,  1T83,  the  Triomphantegot 
safe  into  the  road  of  Porto  Cabello,  where  the 
Auo^uste  and  Pluton  had  arrived  a  few  davs  before. 
The  remainder  of  the  squadron  soon  after  arrived 
safe.  The  transports,  not  being  able  to  gain  Porto 
Cabello,  bore  a'way  for  St.  Domingo.  Don  Solano 
had  promised  to  meet  the  marquis  at  Porto  Cabello 
in  December,  but  did  not  keep  his  word.  He  was 
superseded  and  ordered  home  from  the  Havana  to 
Spain.  It  was  also  at  Porto  Cabello  that  the  com- 
bined force  of  France  and  Spain  from  Cadiz,  under 
Count  d'Estaing,  was  to  join  them  under  Yaudreuil 
and  Solano.  As  neither  of  these  junctions  took 
place,  and  no  new^s  arrived  of  the  reasons  of  the  de- 
tention, it  \vas  most  disagreeable  to  be  kept  in  in- 
action, in  a  place  in  itself  highly  unpleasant." 
Jones  found  it  especially  so. 

After  much  vain  expectations  and  disappoint- 
ments, several  of  the  officers,  and  Captain  Jones 
among  others,  fell  sick  and  were  dangerously  ill. 
At  last  the  news  of  general  peace  arrived,  by  a  frig- 
ate from  France  and  Martinico.  The  most  splen- 
did success,  and  the  most  improving  experience  in 
war,  could  not  have  afforded  Captain  Jones  a 
pleasure  any  way  to  be  compared  to  what  he  felt  on 
learning  that  Great  Britain  had,  after  so  long  a 
struggle,  been  forced  formally  to  acknowledge  the 
sovereignty,  freedom,  and  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America. 


SEEKING  DUTY.  271 

On  the  16th  of  March  he  wrote  to  John  Koss, 
Esq.,  in  the  United  States  :  "I  had,  my  dear  friend, 
the  honor  to  write  \"ou  from  on  board  this  ship, 
while  sailing  out  of  the  harbor  of  Boston,  Decem- 
ber 24:ih.  I  mentioned  to  you  in  that  letter  my 
wish  respecting  the  purchase  of  a  confiscated  estate, 
situated  between  two  navigable  rivers,  a  little  above 
JSTewark,  within  eight  or  ten  miles  of  New  York, 
and  formerly  owned  by  one  Edwards,  who  has  been 
killed.  I  was  told  it  contains  a  large  tract  of  land, 
which  was  valued  before  the  Revolution  at  8,000 
pounds,  but  would  be  sold  for  a  fourth  part  of  that 
sum.  As  New  York  will  probably  be  one  of  our 
first  naval  ports,  the  proximity  of  that  estate  made 
me  the  more  desirous  to  own  it.  If,  therefore,  you 
should  find  on  inquiry  that  I  have  been  righth^  in- 
formed, and  if  you  can  turn  the  merchandise  in 
your  hand  into  money  to  answer  for  the  purchase, 
I  pray  you  to  act  for  me  as  you  would  for  yourself 
on  the  occasion.  We  have  as  yet  no  certain  news 
from  Europe,  etc.  If  the  peace  should,  as  I  wish  it 
may,  be  concluded,  I  wish  to  establish  myself  on  a 
place  I  can  call  my  own,  and  to  offer  my  hand  to 
some  fair  daughter  of  liberty.  If,  on  the  contrary, 
Count  d'Estaing  should  come  out  with  fifty  sail  of 
the  line,  copper  sheathed,  and  18,000  troops,  I  shall 
have  instructions  at  the  greatest  military  school  in 
the  world,  and  I  can  have  no  doubt  of  finding  op- 
portunity of  effecting  the  business  we  talked 
over  at  parting.  Mr.  Morris,  I  am  assured,  will 
not  in  that  case  let  slip  the  occasion ;  and  I  am 


272  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

well  persuaded  you  will  also  take  the  necessary 
steps." 

The  news  of  peace  arrived,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, and  the  squadron  sailed  from  Porto  Cabello 
on  the  8th  of  April,  the  day  after  the  cessation  of 
hostilities. 

Jones  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  the  18th  of  May. 

The  ill-health  which  he  speaks  of  continued  "when 
he  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  He  suffered  from  a 
violent  intermitting  fever,  and  spent  the  summer  at 
Bethlehem,  where  he  had  the  benefit  of  the  cold 
bath.  The  idea  of  living  on  a  fine  farm  in  Kew 
Jersey,  near  a  cit}^  whose  future  growth  and  com- 
mercial prosperity  he  shrewdly  foresaw,  with  some 
fair  "  daughter  of  liberty  "  as  the  matron  head  of 
the  establishment,  was  pleasing  to  him.  The  vision 
speedily  faded  into  thin  air.  He  could  not  realize 
the  amounts  to  him  from  various  quarters. 

Mr.  Barclay,  the  consul-general  of  France,  had 
obtained  no  settlement  of  the  prize  money  remain- 
ing due  to  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  squadron 
Jones  last  commanded. 

There  was  no  ease  to  be  had  without  money,  and 
none  of  the  last  without  yet  further  struggles. 


IN  EUROPE.  273 


CHAPTER  XIY. 


IN    EUROPE. 


On  the  application  of  Jones  Congress  passed  an 
Act  on  the  1st  of  JSTovember,  appointing  him  agent 
for  all  prizes  taken  in  Europe  under  his  own  com- 
mand. .  .  . 

He  lodged  bonds  with  the  minister  of  finance  to 
the  amount  of  S200,000,  to  transmit  to  the  continen- 
tal treasury  all  the  money  he  should  recover  belong- 
ing to  the  citizens  of  America  who  had  served  under 
his  command  in  Europe  ;  to  be  from  thence  paid  to 
them  individually  by  the  minister.  He  chose  to  put 
the  business  on  that  footing  to  prevent  the  possibility 
of  any  reproach. 

He  sailed  the  10th  of  Is"ovember  from  Philadel- 
phia, in  the  Washington  packet,  for  France  ;  and, 
after  a  passage  of  twenty  days,  landed  at  Plymouth 
in  England  ;  the  packet  having  put  in  there,  as  the 
wind  was  unfavorable  for  Havre  de  Grace,  the  port 
of  her  destination.  Having  the  public  despatches 
in  his  charge,  he  set  out  immediately  in  a  post 
chaise  ;  and  finding  Mr.  Adams,  minister  plenipo- 
tentiary for  Holland,  at  London,  who  was  persuaded 
that  the  packets  for  Dr.  Franklin  contained  a  com- 
mission to  conclude  a  treaty  of  commerce  with 
xS 


274  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

England,  he  proceeded  with  such  haste  that  he  was 
only  five  days  on  the  road  from  Plymouth  to  Paris. 
He  traveled  at  his  own  expense. 

The  Marechal  de  Castries  and  the  Count  de  Yer- 
gennes  received  him  cordiall3\  By  the  former  he 
was  introduced  to  the  king  on  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber. On  the  17th  of  December  Franklin  formally 
recognized  his  authority  as  agent  to  solicit  for  pay- 
ment and  satisfaction  to  the  officers  and  crews,  etc., 
in  whose  hands  soever  the  prize  money  might  be 
detained. 

He  set  about  this  negotiation  with  his  whole  soul, 
and  succeeded,  after  two  years,  in  obtaining  a 
liquidation  and  payment  of  the  demand.  It  would 
be  tedious,  were  it  necessary,  and  were  there  room 
for  it,  to  insert  the  correspondence,  which  relates 
to  this  matter.  Jones  claimed  the  proportion  of 
prize  money  due  to  the  Bonhomme  Pichard  and 
Alliance,  to  be  divided  afterwards  by  the  super- 
intendent of  finances  in  America,  agreeabl}"  to  the 
rules  of  her  navy.  That  proportion,  he  assumed, 
was  to  be  ascertained  by  multiplying  the  number  of 
the  crew  by  the  sum  of  the  caliber  of  the  cannon 
mounted  on  board  of  each  ship. 

In  writing  to  the  Marechal  de  Castries,  M.  de 
Sartine's  successor,  he  repeated  minutely  the  story 
of  his  projects  and  his  doings  ;  and  renewed  all  his 
complaints  against  the  conduct  of  M.  de  Chaumont. 
The  following  was,  however,  his  creed  on  the  sub- 
ject, which  is  inserted  without  other  comment,  than 
that  the  captors  should  have  taken  legal  advice  : 


IN  EUROPE.  275 

**  Whether  M.  le  Bay  de  Chauraont  is  indebted  to 
the  government,  or  the  government  is,  as  he  says, 
indebted  to  him,  is  a  matter  that  ought  not  to  re- 
gard the  captors,  but  they  liave  a  right  to  claim  the 
protection  of  government  to  force  M.  le  Ray  de 
Chaumont  to  render  the  money  ^vith  interest,  which 
he  has  unjustly  detained  from  them  for  four  years 
and  a  half,  while  many  of  them  are  perishing  with 
cold  and  hun^-er." 

An  account  was  made  out,  pursuant  to  the  minis- 
ter's direction,  by  M.  Chandon,  on  the  papers  sub- 
mitted by  M.  de  Chaumont.  The  concordat  had 
settled  that  "  the  division  of  prizes  should  be  made 
agreeably  to  the  American  laws ;  but  that  the  pro- 
portion of  the  whole,  coming  to  each  vessel  in  the 
squadron,  should  be  regulated  by  the  minister  of 
the  marine  department  of  France  and  the  minister 
plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  of  America." 
It  would  seem  that  in  this  account  the  French  laws 
were  referred  to,  in  adjusting  such  proportion. 
The  law  of  Congress  gave  the  captors  the  whole 
value  of  all  ships  and  vessels  of  war,  belonging  to 
the  crown  of  Great  Eritain,  and  half  the  value  of 
merchantmen,  etc. 

Charges  were  made  in  the  account  for  repairs 
done  at  the  Texel,  and  the  expenses  of  the  detention 
of  the  prizes  there ;  and  also  of  four  deniers  on  the 
livre,  on  account  of  the  Hospital  of  Inv^alids  at 
Paris,  from  which  institution  American  seamen  had 
received  no  benefit. 

Dr.  Franklin  had  not  interfered  in  relation  to  the 


276  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

distribution  of  this  prize  money.  He  acted  with  his 
uniform  wisdom,  as  there  was  no  obligation  upon 
him  to  express  his  opinions.  Jones  who  was  now, 
as  to  this  matter,  minister  plenipotentiary  himself, 
warmly  and  with  no  mean  skill,  as  well  as  fervor, 
objected  to  this  manner  of  adjusting  the  account, 
and  to  these  deductions.  The  claim  of  the  four 
deniers  was  readily  relinquished  by  the  minister. 
That  for  expenses  in  the  Texel  was  made  the  subject 
of  more  argument,  which  was  managed  by  Jones 
with  much  ingenuity,  and  as  much  passion. 

Franklin  wrote  to  him  that  if  he  had  been  willing 
to  act  himself  in  the  matter,  he  "  certainly  would 
not  have  agreed  to  charge  the  American  captors 
with  any  part  of  the  expense  of  maintaining  the 
500  prisoners  in  Holland  till  they  could  be  ex- 
changed, w^hen  none  of  them  were  exchanged  for 
the  Americans  in  England,  as  was  Jones'  intention, 
and  as  they  both  had  been  made  to  expect." 

Enclosing  a  copy  of  this  letter  to  the  minister, 
Jones  said  :  "  I  will  not  now  complain  that  the 
prisoners  which  I  took  and  carried  to  Holland  were 
not  exchanged  for  the  Americans  who  had  been 
taken  in  war  upon  the  ocean,  and  were  long  con- 
fined in  English  dungeons  by  civil  magistrates,  as 
traitors,  pirates,  and  felons  ;  I  will  only  say,  I  had 
such  a  promise  from  the  minister  of  marine.  It 
was  all  the  reward  I  asked  for  the  anxious  days  and 
sleepless  nights  I  passed,  and  the  many  dangers  I 
encountered,  in  glad  hope  of  giving  them  all  their 
liberty,  and  if  I  had  not  been  assured  that  Mr. 


IN  EUROPE.  277 

Franklin  had  made  an  infallible  arrangement  with 
the  courts  of  France  and  England  for  their  immediate 
redemption,  nothing  but  a  superior  force  should 
have  wrested  them  out  of  my  hands,  till  they  had 
been  actually  exchanged  for  the  unhappy  Americans 
in  England." 

On  the  13th  of  May  the  minister  informed  Jones 
that  on  the  statement  he  had  laid  before  his  majesty, 
this  item  of  deduction  was  also  ordered  to  be  re- 
linquished ;  and  that  the  indisposition  of  M.  Chan- 
don  alone  had  prevented  the  amount  to  be  allowed 
from  being  stated,  which  he  would  take  the  earliest 
measures  for  payment.  Here  was  an  immediate 
prospect  of  a  summary  attainment  of  the  object  of 
his  mission.  With  characteristic  rapidity,  Jones 
replied :  "  I  hope  M.  Chandon  will  immediately 
finish  that  liquidation  ;  and,  considering  that  nearly 
five  years  have  already  elapsed  since  the  prizes  were 
made,  and  that  my  long  delay  here  is  very  incon- 
venient to  my  affaii's,  I  flatter  myself  that  you  will 
take  measures  for  the  payment  as  soon  as  possible." 

On  the  23d  of  October,  it  appears  that  a  "  state- 
ment of  the  liquidation  and  re-partition  of  the  prizes," 
w^as  signed  by  the  Marechal  de  Castries,  in  which 
Jones  urged  that  there  was  an  error  in  the  propor- 
tion assigned  to  the  Vengeance.  This  was  probably 
not  rectified. 

In  June,  in  the  following  year,  we  find  Jones 
joo-ging  the  memory  of  the  minister  as  to  his 
promise  of  taking  prompt  measures  for  payment. 
It  was  then  intimated  that  security  should  be  given 


278  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

for  the  due  application  of  the  fund.  Jones  referred 
to  his  credentials,  and  to  the  documents  which 
showed  that  he  had  given  ample  security  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  and  thus  concluded 
his  letter:  "As  particular  reasons  render  it  ex- 
tremely inconvenient,  if  not  impossible,  for  me  to 
attend  this  business  any  longer,  I  shall  take  the 
liberty  to  wait  on  your  excellency  to-morrow,  to  be 
favored  with  your  final  determination." 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  this  difficulty  was  re- 
moved at  once  ;  but  now  another  arose.  Jones  was 
desired  by  the  minister  to  address  himself  to  the 
ordonnateur  at  L'Orient  for  payment  of  the  money. 
He  did  not  like  this  reference,  and  anticipated  dif- 
ficulties in  his  settlement  with  this  functionar3^  He 
asked  for  orders,  that  the  money  due  the  two  ships, 
the  Bonhorame  Richard  and  the  Alliance,  might 
be  paid  immediately  into  his  hands  en  masse. 

The  expected  difiiculties  with  the  ordonnateur 
occurred.  Mr.  Jefferson  had  now  succeeded  the 
venerable  Franklin  as  minister  plenipotentiary  at 
Yersailles.  On  the  29th  of  July,  in  this  year 
(1785),  Jones  says,  in  addressing  him :  "  I  find  that 
a  French  merchant,  M.  Puchilberg,  who  opposed 
Dr.  Franklin,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
the  revolt  that  took  place  in  the  Alliance,  has  pro- 
duced a  letter  of  attorney  which  he  obtained  from 
the  officers  and  men  of  that  frigate  when  their 
rainds  were  unsettled,  authorizing  him  to  receive 
their  share  in  the  prizes.  And  notwithstanding  the 
orders  of  the  Mar^chal  of  the  15th,  I  find  there  is 


IN  EUROPE.  279 

a  disposition  here  to  pay  the  money  to  M.  Puchil- 
berg,  in  preference  to  me." 

The  interference  of  M.  Puchilberg  was  as  pecu- 
liarly offensive  to  Jones  as  it  Avas  in  his  opinion 
unsafe,  because  he  had  given  no  security  to  the 
American  government  for  the  due  disbursement  of 
the  money  ;  had  not  any  ^'  authentic  roll  of  the 
crew  of  the  Alliance  "  and  could  not  do  justice  to 
the  subjects  of  America.  Jones  was  willing  that 
the  proportion  due  the  French  marines,  who  em- 
barked as  volunteers,  should  be  deducted  from  the 
amount  to  be  paid  to  him. 

Jones  was  importunate,  and,  finally,  something 
more  than  181,000  livres  was  paid  to  him.  lie  de- 
manded  no  commission ;  but  charged  48,000  livres 
for  his  expenses.     (See  Appendix  lY.) 

The  king  remitted  the  proportion  (one-half)  of 
the  sale  of  the  merchant  prizes  to  which,  by  the 
American  laws,  the  government  was  entitled.  The 
balance  of  112,000  livres  was  paid  over  by  Jones  to 
Mr.  Jefferson. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged  in  the  negotiations  he 
planned  a  commercial  speculation  with  the  celebrated 
John  Ledyard.  The  acquaintance  between  Jones 
and  Ledyard  commenced  in  1785,  as  must  be  inferred 
from  the  letters  of  Jones.  The  project  was  spoken 
of  in  the  London  papers  in  that  year.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  extract  from  the  London  Chronicle  of 
August  20th,  1785:  "A  letter  from  L'Orient  says: 
Paul  Jones  has  arrived  here  from  Paris  to  fit  out 
three  ships  on  his  own  account,  of  which  it  is  said 


280  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

he  will  take  the  command  of  an  expedition  to  Kara- 
schatka,  to  purchase  furs  and  establish  a  factory. 
This  he  is  enabled  to  do  by  having  lately  received 
400,000  livres  for  the  prizes  he  took  in  the  war." 

The  *' propositions  for  a  commercial  enterprise" 
are  before  me  in  French.  The  year  in  which  they 
were  drawn  up  does  not  appear  in  the  instrument. 
"  A  vessel  of  250  tons  was  to  be  armed  and  equipped, 
with  fortv-five  officers  and  men,  who  were  to  be 
French.  She  was  to  sail  on  the  1st  of  October  for 
Cape  Horn,  thence  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  to 
take  in  provisions,  and  thence  continue  her  route 
towards  the  northwest  coast,  where  she  w^ould  ar- 
rive in  April.  She  was  to  remain  there,  if  business 
required  it,  until  September  or  October,  and  then 
make  sail  for  Japan,  where  the  peltry  was  to  be  ex- 
changed for  gold  or  other  commodities,  if  the  market 
proved  better  than  that  of  China,  which  was  thought 
probable.  If  not,  she  was  to  proceed  to  Macao; 
where  experience  had  proved  that,  at  tlie  most 
moderate  calculation,  the  furs  would  bring  ten  livres 
each,  the  amount  of  w^hich  w^as  to  be  taken  in  gold 
or  the  merchandise  of  China  ;  after  which  she  was 
to  return  to  France  by  the  ordinary  route  round  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  would  arrive  after  a  voyage 
of  about  eighteen  months. 

"  As  supercargo,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
(Led\'ard)  was  proposed,  who  had  been  an  officer 
of  Captain  Cook  in  his  last  voyage  round  the  world, 
and  had  come  to  France  expressly  to  propose  this 
enterprise,  and  demanded  no  appointments  or  other 


IN  EUROPE.  281 

compensation  than  a  reasonable  commission  on  the 
profits  of  the  voyage."     The  propositions  proceed 
to  set  forth  that  the  novelty  of  the  projected  voyage 
was  the  only  disadvantageous  circumstance  antic- 
ipated in  relation  to  it,  while   its   advantages  were 
easily  foreseen ;  that  the  risks,  compared  to  the  prof- 
its, were,  at  the  most  modest  estimate,  but  as  one 
in  ten,  which  was  far  less  than  attended  all  voyages 
either  to  the  East  or  West  Indies  ;  that  the  expenses 
of  the  armament  and  cargo  Avere  very  inconsider- 
able;  that  the  quality,  variety,  and  quantity  of  the 
skins  on  the  northwest  coast  exceeded  all  known  of 
the  kind  in  any  other  part  of  the  world  ;  that  such 
precious  furs  might  be  bought  for  a  bagatelle,  and 
sold  at  a  market  where  the  venders  might  fix  their 
own  price  ;  that  the  distance  between  the  places  of 
purchase  and  sail  was  so  inconsequential  that  the 
peltry  could  not  be  injured  by  the  transportation ; 
that  there  was  no  necessity  of  delaying  in  any  port 
before  arriving  in  China,  which  would  save  great 
expenses  and  other  inconveniences  ;  that  they  would 
touch  at  a  port  where  the  supercargo  could  procure 
provisions  at  the  lowest  price,  viz.,  pork,  salt,  fish, 
poultry,  vegetables,  etc.,  for  twelve  months  or  more. 
Of  the  commercial  knowledge  which  would  be  ac- 
quired by  those  who  should  undertake  the  expedition, 
of  the  opportunity  it  would   afford  to  make  a  most 
precious  collection  of  natural  and  artificial  curiosi- 
ties, of  the  honor  and  pleasure  which  would  result 
from  it,  the  projector  spoke  only  as  accidental  cir- 
cumstances.    He  added  that  it  would  be  better  if 


282 


LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


th©  enterprise  were  undertaken  by  a  single  house, 
or  two  at  most,  the  expense  attending  the  equip- 
ment being  so  unimportant ;  and  that  those  who 
should  advance  the  funds  need  not  be  interrupted 
in  their  business,  as  the  supercargo  would  take  upon 
himself  the  charge  of  making  all  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements with  the  greatest  despatch.  He  ob- 
served, that  there  was  scarce  any  branch  of  com- 
merce which  might  be  so  considerably  augmented, 
possessing  the  great  advantage  of  a  certain  market 
in  China,  and  always  obtaining  advantageous  returns 
from  thence. 

The  speculators  might  also  at  all  hazards  give  a 
credit  by  bills  of  exchange  or  otherwise,  to  be  used 
in  China  if  necessary,  which  would  give  the  same 
advantage  to  the  expedition  as  an  ordinary  voyage 
to  the  East  Indies,  which  any  ship  under  the  Ameri- 
can flag  might  undertake.  The  supercargo  could 
provide  all  the  charts  necessary  for  the  voyage,  ex- 
cept those  from  the  Straits  of  Magellan  to  the  south 
by  Cape  Horn ;  but  they  could  easily  be  procured. 
The  following  estimate  was  added  of  the  expenses 
and  profits  of  the  expedition : 


EXPENSES. 

Cost  of  a  vessel  of  250  tons..  £l.2r>0 

Complete  equipment 1,250 

Provisions  for  a  year 500 

CarRO .500 

Wages  advanced  to  the  crew.        250 

3,750 
Profit  of  the  voyage 36,250 

Sterling,  £40,000 


EETURNS. 

A  cargo  of  3.000  skins  bought 
on  the  N.  W.  Coast,  worth 
10  Louis  a-piece  in  China.  .£30.000 

As  a  moderate  profit  on  the 
merchandise  bought  in 
China £10,000 


Sterling,  £40,000 


IN  EUROPE.  233 

A  most  interesting  account  is  given  of  the  life  of 
Ledyard,  of  his  efforts  both  in  America  and  France 
to  obtain  a  ship  for  carrying  this  project  into  execu- 
tion. Ledyard  says,  that  Mr.  Morris  "  took  a  noble 
hold,  instantly,  of  the  enterprise."  It  fell  through, 
however,  in  America  as  it  did  in  France,  where  Mr. 
Jefferson's  sagacious  mind  readily  comprehended  the 
importance  of  discovery  and  settlement  in  regions 
which  might  eventually  fall  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  Union. 

The  fate  of  the  three  prizes  sent  to  Bergen,  in 
l^orway,  has  been  mentioned.  The\^  were  valued, 
by  M.  Dechezaulx  the  French  consul  there,  at  fifty 
thousand  pounds  sterling ;  five-fold  the  amount  re- 
covered for  the  prizes  sent  into  France.  The  power 
of  soliciting  payment  for  this  money  was  given  to 
Jones  by  the  general  resolution  of  Congress,  on  the 
1st  of  ISTovember,  1783,  and  the  authorization  of 
Franklin  in  virtue  thereof,  on  the  17th  of  December 
following.  jSTeither  did  he  ever  lose  sight  of  this 
object,  to  which  he  no^v  began  to  turn  his  attention 
particularly.  In  the  letter  addressed  by  Dr.  Frank- 
lin to  Count  Bernstorf,  prime  minister  of  Denmark, 
in  December,  1779,  reclaiming  these  prizes  or  their 
value,  the  American  statesman  urged  every  consid- 
eration of  policy  and  equity  to  induce  a  repeal  of  the 
order  giving  them  up  to  the  English.  Bernstorf's 
reply,  w^ritten  in  March  following,  w^as  a  good  sample 
of  diplomatic  flourish,  evasion,  and  shuffling,  vul- 
garly called  in  America,  "Whipping  the  devil  round 
the  stump."    He  referred  "  for  further  particulars  ** 


284  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

to  the  Baron  de  Blome,  Danish  minister  at  Paris, 
T\'ho  of  course  had  nothing  but  compliments  and 
condolences  to  offer;  and  there  the  matter  rested 
until  the  independence  of  the  United  States  was  rec- 
ognized by  Denmark. 

Jones  thought  that  as  the  plan  of  applying  through 
the  ambassadors  had  proved  slow  and  uncertain,  and 
as  Congress  had  in  June  previous  ordered  the  prize 
money  paid  over  by  him  to  be  distributed  by  the 
board  of  treasury,  which  made  his  immediate  return 
to  America  unnecessarv,  it  would  be  better  for  him 
to  proceed  in  person  to  Copenhagen,  of  which  Mr. 
Jefferson  approved.  Jones  asked  for  and  obtained 
a  letter  from  the  Count  de  Yergennes  to  the  Baron 
de  la  Houze,  French  minister  in  Denmark,  and  armed 
himself  with  other  credentials. 

He  did  not  go  to  Copenhagen,  but  paid  a  flj'ing 
visit  to  America,  the  cause  of  which  will  appear 
from  the  annexed  letter  to  Mr.  Jay,  minister  of 
foreign  affairs,  written  shortly  after  his  arrival  at 
New  York.  "  I  left  Paris  in  the  spring,  and  went 
as  far  as  Brussels  on  my  way  to  Copenhagen,  when 
an  unforeseen  circumstance  in  m}^  private  affairs 
rendered  it  indispensable  for  me  to  turn  about  and 
cross  the  ocean.  My  private  business  here  being 
already  finished,  I  shall  in  a  few  days  re-embark  for 
Europe,  in  order  to  proceed  to  the  court  of  Den- 
mark. .  .  . 

"  I  should  act  inconsistentlv  if  I  ommitted  to  men- 
tion  the  dreadful  situation  of  our  unhappy  fellow- 
citizens  in  slavery  at  Algiers.     Their  almost  hopeless 


IN  EUROPE.  285 

fate  is  a  deep  reflection  on  our  national  character 
in  Europe.  I  beg  leave  to  influence  the  humanity 
of  Congress  in  their  behalf,  and  to  propose  that  some 
expedient  may  be  adopted  for  their  redemption.  A 
fund  might  be  raised  for  that  purpose,  by  a  duty  of 
a  shilling  per  month  from  seamen's  wages,  through- 
out the  continent,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  no  dif- 
culty  would  be  made  to  that  requisition." 

On  the  11th  of  October,  1787,  Congress  acted 
upon  the  report  made  by  Jones,  relative  to  his  col- 
lection of  the  prize  money,  and  on  the  16th  that 
body  passed  the  following  resolution  : 

'^Resolved  unanimously,  That  a  medal  of  gold  be 
struck,  and  presented  to  the  Chevalier  John  Paul 
Jones,  in  commemoration  of  the  valor  and  brilliant 
services  of  that  officer,  in  the  command  of  a  squad- 
ron of  American  and  French  ships  under  the  flag 
and  commission  of  the  United  States,  off  the  coast 
of  Great  Britain  in  the  late  v^- ar ;  and  that  the  Hon- 
orable Mr.  Jefferson,  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the 
United  States  at  the  court  of  Yersailles,  have  the 
same  executed,  with  the  proper  devices." 

On  the  25th  Congress  passed  resolutions,  author- 
izing and  instructing  the  minister  at  Yersailles  to 
make  proper  representations  to  his  Danish  Majesty 
on  the  subject  of  the  claim  against  him,  to  settle  the 
demand,  and  to  despatch  the  Chevalier  Paul  Jones, 
or  such  other  agent  as  he  might  appoint,  wnth  powers 
to  carry  on  the  negotiation,  subject  to  his  eventual 


286  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

approbation.  Five  per  cent,  commission  was  to  be 
allowed  for  all  expenses  and  demands  whatever. 

Jones  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  11th  of  Decem- 
ber, landed  at  Dover  on  account  of  unfavorable 
weather,  and  after  spending  a  few  days  in  London, 
where  he  ccmferred  with  Adams  on  the  objects  of 
his  mission,  he  repaired  to  Paris. 

During  the  interview  with  Mr.  Jefferson  in  Paris, 
the  latter  made  a  communication  to  him,  which, 
though  he  says  in  his  Journal  he  at  first  treated  as 
chimerical,  must,  unanticipated  as  it  probabl}^  was, 
have  awakened  ambitious  hopes  and  dreams  of  glory 
too  powerful  and  vivid  not  to  be  entertained  and 
deeply  meditated  upon.  He  informed  him,  that  in 
several  conversations  he  had  held  with  M.  Simolin, 
the  E-ussian  ambassador  at  Versailles,  the  latter  had 
intimated  his  opinion  that  it  would  be  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  empress,  if  she  could  engage  the 
services  of  the  chevalier  in  the  war  she  was  carrying 
on  against  the  Turks.  He  was  not  authorized  to 
make  any  specific  proposition ;  but  the  hint  was 
certainly  not  unattended  to  by  the  commodore. 

On  the  24:th  of  December  he  submitted  to  Mr. 
Jefferson's  perusal  his  documents  in  relation  to  the 
claim  on  Denmark.  He  says,  in  conclusion :  *'  I 
have  explained  to  the  board  of  treasury  the  mistake 
that  was  made  in  calling  the  ships  in  question 
*  prizes  of  the  Alliance ' ;  and  left  them  perfectly 
convinced  that  the  prizes  belong  to  the  squadron  in 
general.  ISTow,  as  his  most  Christian  Majesty  was 
at  the  whole  expense  of  supporting  the  squadron  I 


IN  EUROPE.  287 

commanded,  including  the  expense  of  the  Alliance, 
I  submit  to  you  what  kind  of  support  would  be 
most  proper  for  this  court  to  afford  to  my  re- 
clamation at  the  court  of  Denmark?  It  is  the  duty 
of  this  government  to  interest  itself  in  behalf  of  the 
French  subjects  who  were  embarked  under  my 
orders.  In  doing  this,  would  it  be  most  proper  to 
authorize  me  to  act  for  them  in  common  with  the 
Americans ;  or  to  direct  the  Baron  de  la  Houze  to 
support  my  application  ?  " 

On  the  2-l:th  of  January  followinoj  he  received 
his  credentials  from  Mr.  Jefferson,  according  to  the 
tenor  of  the  Act  of  Congress,  and  soon  after  set  out 
for  Copenhagen. 

A  lengthy  but  not  particularly  interesting  corre- 
spondence from  Jones  on  the  subject  of  the  claims  fol- 
lows his  arrival,  which  are  brought  to  an  end  by  the 
government  of  Denmark  refusing  to  treat  with  him 
because  he  was  not  invested  with  full  plenipoten- 
tiary powers. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Copenhagan  he  re- 
ceived the  following  letter  from  Baron  Krudner : 

"My  sovereign  will  learn  with  pleasure  the  ac- 
quisition which  she  has  made  in  your  great  talents.  I 
have  her  commands  for  your  acceptance  of  the 
grade  of  captain-commandant,  with  the  rank  of 
major-general,  in  her  service,  and  that  you  should 
proceed  as  soon  as  your  affairs  permit ;  the  inten- 
tion of  her  imperial  majesty  being  to  give  you  a 
command  in  the  Black  Sea,  and  under  the  orders  of 


288  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Prince  Potemkin,  from  the  opening  of  the  cam- 
paign. The  immortal  glory  by  which  you  have 
illustrated  your  name  cannot  make  you  indifferent 
to  the  fresh  laurels  you  must  gather  in  the  new 
career  which  opens  to  you.  I  have  the  honor  of 
being  on  this  occasion  the  interpreter  of  those  senti- 
ments of  esteem  with  which  for  a  long  period  your 
brilliant  exploits  have  inspired  her  imperial  majesty. 
Under  a  sov^ereign  so  magnanimous,  in  pursuing 
glory  you  need  not  doubt  of  the  most  distinguished 
rewards,  and  that  every  advantage  of  fortune  will 
await  you,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  following  was  his  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  an- 
nouncing the  termination  of  his  business  at  the 
Danish  court.  It  may  be  considered  as  apologetic 
for  the  step  he  was  about  taking,  and  must  not  be 
omitted : 

"  If  Congress  should  think  I  deserve  the  promo- 
tion that  was  proposed  when  I  was  last  in  America, 
and  should  condescend  to  confer  on  me  the  grade  of 
rear-admiral,  from  the  day  I  took  the  Serapis  (23d 
of  September,  1779),  I  am  persuaded  it  would  be 
very  agreeable  to  the  empress,  who  now  deigns  to 
offer  me  an  equal  rank  in  lier  service,  although  I 
never  yet  had  the  honor  to  draw  my  sword  in  her 
cause,  nor  to  do  any  other  act  that  could  directly 
merit  her  imperial  benevolence.  "While  I  express,  in 
the  warm  effusion  of  a  grateful  heart,  the  deep  sense  I 
feel  in  my  eternal  obligation  to  you,  as  the  author 


IN  EUROPE.  289 

of  the  honorable  prospect  that  is  now  before  me,  I 
must  rely  on  your  friendship  to  justify  to  the  United 
States  the  important  step  I  now  take,  conformable 
to  your  advice.  You  know  I  had  no  idea  of  this 
new  fortune  when  I  found  that  you  had  put  it  in 
train,  before  m}^  last  return  to  Paris  from  America. 
I  have  not  forsaken  a  country  that  has  had  many 
disinterested  and  difficult  proofs  of  my  steady  affec- 
tion ;  and  I  can  never  renounce  the  glorious  title  of 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States  ! 

"  It  is  true  I  have  not  the  express  permission  of 
the  sovereign  to  accept  the  offer  of  her  imperial 
majesty ;  yet  America  is  independent,  is  in  perfect 
peace,  has  no  public  emplo3^ment  for  my  military 
talents  ;  but  why  should  I  excuse  a  conduct  which 
I  should  rather  hope  would  meet  with  general  appro- 
bation ?  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1Y82  Con- 
gress passed  an  act  for  my  embarkation  in  the  fleet 
of  his  most  Christian  Majesty ;  and  when,  a  few 
months  ago,  I  left  America  to  return  to  Europe,  I 
was  made  the  bearer  of  a  letter  to  his  most  Christian 
Majesty,  requesting  me  to  be  permitted  to  embark 
in  the  fleets  of  evolution.  Why  did  Congress  pass 
those  acts?  To  facilitate  my  improvement  of  con- 
ducting fleets  and  military  operations.  I  am,  then, 
conformino:  mvself  to  the  views  of  Cono:ress ;  but 
the  roll  allotted  me  is  infinitely  more  high  and  diffi- 
cult than  Congress  intended.  Instead  of  receiving 
lessons  from  able  masters,  in  the  theory  of  war,  I 
am  called  to  immediate  practise ;  where  I  must 
command  in  chief,  conduct  the  most  difficult  opera- 
19 


290  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

tions,  be  my  own  preceptor,  and  instruct  others. 
Cono-ress  will  allow  me  some  merit  in  darinof  to  en- 
counter  such  multiplied  dilficulties.  The  mark  I 
mentioned  of  the  approbation  of  that  honorable 
body  would  be  extremely  flattering  to  me  in  the 
career  I  am  now  to  pursue,  and  would  stimulate  all 
my  ambition  to  acquire  the  necessary  talents  to 
merit  that,  and  even  greater  favors,  at  a  future  day. 
I  pray  you,  sir,  to  explain  the  circumstances  of  my 
situation,  and  be  the  interpreter  of  my  sentiments 
to  the  United  States  in  Congress.  I  ask  for  noth- 
ing ;  and  beg  leave  to  be  understood  only  as  having 
hinted,  what  is  natural  to  conceive,  that  the  mark 
of  approbation  I  mentioned  could  not  fail  to  be  in- 
finitely serviceable  to  my  views  and  success  in  the 
country  where  I  am  going. 

*'  The  prince  royal  sent  me  a  messenger,  re- 
questing me  to  come  to  his  apartment.  His  royal 
highness  said  a  great  many  civil  things  to  me, 
told  me  the  king  thanked  me  for  my  attention 
and  civil  behavior  to  the  Danish  flag  while  I  com- 
manded in  the  iluropean  seas  ;  and  that  his  majesty 
wished  for  occasion  to  testify  to  me  his  personal 
esteem,  etc.    I  was  alone  with  the  prince  half  an  hour. 

I  am  with  perfect  esteem,"  etc. 

The  hint  that  the  empress  would  be  pleased  with 
his  receiving  the  honorary  rank  of  rear-admiral  from 
his  own  government,  was  drawn  forth  in  consequence 
of  his  now  obtaining  it  in  the  first  instance  from 
Kussia,  upon  which  he  had  calculated,  and  meant, 


IN  EUROPE.  201 

indirectly,  to  insist.  In  reply  to  Baron  Krudner  he 
said  :  "  I  am  extremely  flattered  by  the  obliging 
things  expressed  in  the  letter  your  excellency  has 
done  me  the  honor  to  write  me  yesterday.  The 
very  favorable  sentiments  with  which  my  zeal  for 
the  cause  of  America,  rather  than  my  professional 
skill,  has  inspired  her  imperial  niajest}^  fills  me 
with  an  irresistible  desire  to  merit  the  precious 
opinion  with  which  her  majesty  deigns  to  honor  me. 
Though  I  cannot  conceive  the  reason  why  any  diffi- 
culty should  be  made  to  my  being  admitted  into  the 
marine  of  her  imperial  majesty  as  rear-admiral,  a 
rank  which  I  have  some  claim  to,  and  that  it  should 
at  the  same  time  be  proposed  to  give  me  the  grade 
of  major-general,  to  which  I  have  no  title,  it  is  not 
my  intention  to  withdraw  from  the  engagement 
which  3'ou  have  formed  in  my  name,  in  the  letter  you 
addressed  your  court  on  the  23d  current.  You 
will  be  convinced  by  the  papers  I  have  the  honor  to 
submit  to  your  inspection,  that  I  am  not  an  adven- 
turer in  search  of  fortune.  You  will  discover,  I 
presume,  that  my  talents  have  been  considerable; 
but  that,  loving  glorv,  I  am  perhaps  too  much  at- 
tached to  honors,  though  personal  interest  is  an  idol  to 
which  I  have  never  bowed  the  knee.  The  unbound- 
ed admiration  and  profound  respect  which  I  have 
long  felt  for  the  glorious  character  of  her  imperial 
majesty  forbids  the  idea  that  a  sovereign  so  magnan- 
imous should  sanction  any  arrangment  that  may 
give  pain  at  the  outset  to  the  man  she  deigns  to 
honor  with   her   notice,  and  who  wishes  to  devote 


292  LI^E  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

himself  entirely  to  her  service.  A  conjoined  com- 
mand is  hurtful,  and  often  fatal,  in  military  opera- 
tions. There  is  no  military  man  who  is  so  entirely 
master  of  his  passions  as  to  keep  free  of  jealousy 
and  its  consequences  on  such  occasions.  Being  an 
entire  stranger,  I  have  more  to  fear  from  a  joint 
authorit}^  than  any  officer  in  her  majesty's  service. 
But  I  cannot  conceive  that  her  majesty  could  deem 
it  expedient  to  divide  the  command  in  the  Black 
Sea ;  and  if  the  direction  of  the  militar}^  department 
there  is  confided  to  an  officer  of  sufficient  capacity 
and  experience,  I  can  neither  desire  to  interfere 
with  his  command,  nor  promise,  with  a  detachment, 
which  could  not  fail  to  excite  his  jealousy  to  con- 
tribute much  to  the  glory  of  her  majesty's  arms." 

Jones  had  particular  reasons  for  disliking  the 
subordinate  command  which  was  tendered  to  him. 
The  Prince  of  Xassaa-Seigen,  who  was  now  appoint- 
ed to  command  the  fleet  of  the  empress  in  the  Black 
Sea,  had,  as  will  be  recollected,  volunteered  to  accom- 
pany him  in  the  secret  expedition  against  England 
in  1779,  and  abandoned  his  purpose,  if  it  ever  really 
existed,  without  even  the  civility  of  an  apology. 
He  took  no  notice  of  Jones'  letters  on  the  occasion. 
His  subsequent  naval  services  had  been  attended  with 
no  glory.  He  had  been  engaged  in  the  attempt 
made  by  the  French  on  the  Island  of  Jersey,  which 
failed  altogether,  and  in  the  equally  unsuccessful 
attack  of  Gibraltar  by  the  French  and  Spanish  forces 
Jones  had  a  poor  opinion  of  his  knowledge  as  a  naval 
commander,  or  indeed  of  his  courage.     Such  was  the 


IN  EUROPE.  293 

rival,  however,  with  whom  he  was  now  to  be  as- 
sociated. 

At  the  court  of  Denmark,  which  he  was  now  leav- 
ing, he  had  unquestionably  been  received  with  great 
distinction.  What  seems  a  little  extraordinarv,  this 
court,  shortly  after  Jones'  departure,  sent  him  a 
patent,  granting  him  1,500  Danish  crowns  annually, 
"  for  the  respect  he  had  shown  to  the  Danish  Hag, 
while  he  had  commanded  in  the  north  seas.  It  was 
undoubtedly  offered  with  the  double  purpose  of 
pleasing  the  empress  and  propitiating  the  American 
government.  Jones  did  not  understand  the  propriety 
of  this  gift  at  the  time,  and  makes  no  mention  of  it 
in  his  correspondence  with  his  American  friends  at 
that  period.  Three  years  after  he  found  it  convenient 
to  avail  himself  of  it ;  but  he  then  found  that,  like 
the  promises  in  relation  to  the  prize  money,  it  was 
but  an  unmeaning  compliment. 

His  journey  to  the  capital  of  Russia  was  an  ex- 
traordinary one.  We  give  his  own  account  of  it  in 
his  Journal.  He  says  to  Lafayette :  "  The  empress 
received  me  with  a  distinction  the  most  flattering 
that  perhaps  any  stranger  can  boast  of.  On  enter 
ing  into  the  Russian  service,  her  majesty  conferred 
on  me  immediately  the  grade  of  rear-admiral.  I 
was  detained  against  my  will  a  fortnight,  and  con- 
tinually feasted  at  court,  and  in  the  first  society. 
This  was  a  cruel  grief  to  the  English,  and  I  own 
that  their  vexation,  which  I  believe  was  general  in 
and  about  St.  Petersburg,  gave  me  no  pain.  You 
would  be  charmed  with  Prince  Potemkin,    He  is  a 


294  LIJFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

most  amiable  man,  and  none  can  be  more  noble- 
minded.  For  the  empress,  fame  has  never  yet  done 
her  justice.  I  am  sure  that  no  stranger  who  has  not 
known  that  illustrious  character  ever  conceived 
how  much  her  majesty  is  made  to  reign  over  a  great 
empire,  to  make  people  happy,  and  to  attach  grate- 
ful and  susceptible  minds.  Is  not  the  present  a 
happy  moment  for  France  to  declare  for  Kussia  ?  " 

Jones  received  before  his  departure  from  St.  Pe- 
tersburg the  following  letter  and  enclosure  from  the 
empress  : 

From  the  Empress  Catharine  to  Eear- Admiral 
John  Paul  Jones. 

"  Sir,— 

"  A  courier  from  Paris  has  just  brought  from  my 
envoy  in  France,  M.  de  Simolin,  the  enclosed  letter 
to  Count  Besborodko.  As  I  believe  that  this  letter 
may  help  to  confirm  to  yo\i  what  I  have  already 
told  you  verbally,  I  have  sent  it,  and  beg  you  to  re- 
turn it,  as  I  have  not  even  made  a  copy  be  taken,  so 
anxious  am  I  that  you  should  see  it.  I  hope  that  it 
will  efface  all  doubts  from  your  mind,  and  prove  to 
you  that  you  are  to  be  connected  only  with  those 
who  are  most  favorably  disposed  towards  you.  I 
have  no  doubt  but  that  on  your  side  you  will  fully 
justify  the  opinion  we  have  formed  of  you,  and  apply 
yourself  with  zeal  to  support  the  reputation  and  the 
name  you  have  acquired  for  valor  and  skill  on  the 
element  in  which  you  are  to  serve. 

"  Adieu,  I  wish  you  happiness  and  health, 

*'  Catharine." 


IN  EUROPE.  295 

War  had  been  impending  between  Eussia  and  the 
Porte  since  the  disturbances  in  the  Crimea,  in  1777 
occasioned  by  the  election  of  a  Khan,  in  which  the 
former  interfered  to  support  one  of  the  candidates, 
with  the  ultimate  view  of  dispossessing  him  entirely. 
The  empress,  encouraged  by  her  eccentric  and  over- 
bearing favorite  and  general,  Potenikin,  in  the  am- 
bitious desire  of  being  crowned  at  Constantinople, 
never  lost  sight  of  this  intention.     The  foundations 
of  the  city  of  Cherson  were  only  laid  in  1783,  and 
in  a  very  short  time  it  counted  40,000  inhabitants, 
and   ships-of-war    were   launched   from   its   yards. 
This  advantage  increased  the  cupidity  of  the  Auto- 
crat, and  the  invasion  of  the  Crimea   was    deter- 
mined upon  as  a  necessary  preliminary  to  operations 
against  Turkey.     A  pretext  was  soon  found  in  the 
dissensions    between  the   Tartar    princes,  and   the 
usurpation  took  place  effectually-,  though  the  Khan 
was  left  for  a  short  time   with  nominal  authority. 
At  the  same  time  Potemkin  and  Suvorrof  subdued 
and  received  the  homage  of  the  tribes  of  the  Kuban, 
and  the  extensive  wilds  more  remote.     A  manifesto 
was  published  to  justify  these  unprovoked  acts  and 
the   annexation   of  those   districts  to   the    empire. 
The  Porte   replied  in  an  able  answer,  but  did  not 
yet  appeal  to  arms;  which  was  what  the  empress 
wished  for.     England  urged  the  divan  to  the  meas- 
ure, but  the  influence  of  France  and  Austria,  and 
oriental  indolence,  prevailed  against  the  advice.    By 
a  new  treaty   the  sovereignty   of  Eussia  over  the 
Crimea,  and  great  part  of  Kuban,  with  the  right 


296  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

of  dominion  of  the  Euxine,  and  to  the  passage  of 
the  Dardanelles,  was  conceded  to  Russia.  'New 
usurpations  followed  immediately  on  the  part  of  the 
latter.  In  1786  Catharine  projected  a  mao^nificent 
progress  to  the  Euxine,  where,  after  having  sol- 
emnly taken  the  scepter  of  the  Khan,  it  was  her 
intention  to  conduct  her  young  grandson,  Con- 
stantine,  to  the  gates  of  the  city,  with  reference  to 
whose  contemplated  destiny  he  had  been  named. 
His  sickness  prevented  this  part  of  the  project  from 
being  executed  ;  and  the  progress,  though  splendid, 
Tvas  not  conducted  on  so  grand  a  scale  as  had  been 
at  first  proposed.  She  was  attended  by  the  exist- 
ing favorite  Moraonoff,  the  Grand  Ecuyer  Narich- 
kin,  others  of  the  Russian  nobilit}^  and  courtiers, 
the  ambassadors  of  France  and  Austria,  and  the 
English  envoy.  She  was  joined  at  Keiff  by  Prince 
Potemkin,  and  the  Prince  Nassau-Siegen,  who  seems 
to  have  won  favor  for  himself  on  the  occasion.  In 
the  beginning  of  the  spring  she  embarked  with  a 
numerous  and  brilliant  retinue,  the  king  of  Poland 
being  in  compan}^,  and  the  emperor  of  Austria  join- 
ing her  on  the  route.  The  divan  were  uneasy  at 
this  visitation  ;  and  while  the  empress  was  at  Cher- 
son,  four  of  their  ships  of  the  line  anchored  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Dnieper,  though  not  with  actual 
hostile  intentions.  The  empress  returned,  and  Po- 
temkin, who  longed  for  the  grand  ribbon  of  the 
Order  of  St.  George,  had  not  yet  effected  his  object 
of  forcing  the  Turks  to  act  first  on  the  offensive. 
No  means  were  left  untried.     The  consul  in  Mol- 


IN  EUROPE.  297 

davia  stirred  up  insurrections ;  the  Hussian  ships 
abused  their  privileges  conceded  by  the  Porte ;  a 
correspondence  was  formed  with  Egypt,  and  in- 
trigues were  carried  on  with  the  Greeks  of  Smyrna. 
The  troubles  in  Georgia  were  fomented  by  the  pro- 
tection given  to  Prince  Heraclius.  These  and  vari- 
ous other  grievances  led  to  the  presentation,  on  tho 
26th  of  July,  1787,  of  a  memorial  from  the  grand 
vizier,  and  'reis  effendi,  to  the  French  minister ;  to 
which  an  immediate  answer  was  requested.  Th« 
ambassador  asked  for  time  to  consult  his  court, 
which  was  granted.  But  the  influence  of  Great 
Britain  now  predominated,  and  war  was  declared 
before  any  answer  was  received  from  Bussia. 
Eighty  thousand  men  were  ordered  to  march  to 
cover  Oczakow.  A  large  army  advanced  to  tho 
Danube ;  and  a  squadron  of  sixteen  ships  of  the 
line,  eight  frigates,  and  several  galleys  entered  the 
Euxine  under  the  command  of  the  capitan-pacha. 
The  Greeks  were  disarmed,  and  the  Tartars  invited 
to  return  to  their  allegiance  to  the  grand  seignior. 
They  complied  with  the  call,  and  their  Shah  had 
soon  under  his  orders  an  army  of  40,000  men. 

This  news  was  received  with  joy  at  St.  Peters- 
burg. A  fleet  of  eight  ships  of  the  line,  twelve 
frigates  and  near  two  hundred  chebeks  or  gunboats 
was  equipped  in  the  Euxine,  and  two  squadrons  com- 
manded  bv  Admirals  Kruse  and  Greio^  were  in  read- 
iness  at  Cronstadt  to  sail  for  the  Mediterranean. 
Joseph  II.,  the  ally  of  the  empress,  sent  80,000 
Austrian s  on  their  march  to  Moldavia,  and  the  em* 


298  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JOXES. 

press  published  manifestos  to  assert  the  justice  of 
her  cause.  Hostile  operations  on  the  part  of  Sweden, 
Avhich  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  dwell  upon,  gave  a 
check  to  the  exultation  at  St.  Petersburg,  which  was 
left  defenseless ;  and  the  appearance  of  the  Swedish 
fleet  off  Cronstadt  occasioned  a  recall  of  the  sailing 
orders  given  to  the  Kussian  admirals  there. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  299 


CHAPTER  XY. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN. 
(From  Jones'  Journal.) 

"  The  United  States  of  America  having  charged 
me  with  a  mission  of  a  political  nature  to  the  court 
of  Denmark,  and  having  at  the  same  time  furnished 
me  with  a  letter  to  deliver  personally  to  his  most 
Christian  Majesty,  Louis  XYI.,  I  embarked  at  Kew 
York  on  the  11th  of  November,  1787,  in  an  Amer- 
ican vessel  bound  for  Holland,  the  captain  of  which 
agreed  to  land  me  in  France. 

"  After  a  voyage  of  a  month,  I  landed  at  Dover, 
in  England,  not  being  able  to  get  ashore  in  France. 
From  Dover  I  went  to  London,  where  I  saw  the 
minister  of  the  United  States.  I  passed  some  days 
with  my  friends  there,  and  went  to  Covent  Garden 
Theater.  .  I  afterwards  set  out  for  Paris,  where  I 
arrived  on  the  20th  of  December. 

"Mr.  Jefferson,  the  ambassador  of  the  United 
States,  visited  me  on  the  night  of  my  arrival,  and  in- 
formed me  that  M.  de  Siraolin,  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary of  her  imperial  majesty  of  all  the  Russias, 
had  often  spoke  of  me  while  I  was  in  America,  and 
appeared  anxious  to  succeed  in  prevailing  on  me  to 
go  to  Russia,  to  command  the  fleet  against  the  Turks 


300  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

in  the  Black  Sea.  I  regarded  this  proposal  as  a 
castle  in  the  air ;  and,  as  1  did  not  wish  for  any  em- 
ployment in  foreign  service,  I  avoided  meeting  M. 
de  Simolin,  for  whose  character  I  had,  at  the  same 
time,  the  highest  respect. 

"  As  the  letter,  of  which  I  was  the  bearer  to  the 
king  of  France,  concerned  myself  alone,  my  friends 
advised  me  not  to  seek  an  interview  with  his  majesty 
before  my  return  from  Denmark.  In  that  letter 
the  United  States  requested  his  majesty  to  permit 
me  to  embark  in  his  fleet  of  evolutions,  to  complete 
my  knowledge  of  naval  tactics,  and  of  military  and 
maritime  operations  upon  a  great  scale. 

"  Speaking  to  a  man  of  very  high  rank  at  Paris, 
I  repeated  to  him  w^hat  had  been  communicated  to 
me  by  Mr.  Jefferson.  He  replied  that  "  he  would 
advise  me  to  go  to  Constantinople  at  once  rather 
than  enter  the  service  of  Russia. 

"  On  the  1st  of  February,  1788,  at  the  moment  of 
my  departure  from  Paris,  I  received  a  note  from 
Mr.  Littlepage,  chamberlain  to  the  king  of  Poland, 
earnestly  requesting  me  to  breakfast  with  him  next 
morning,  as  he  had  ipatters  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  communicate  to  me.  I  went  to  him  that 
same  night,  and  he  told  me  that  M.  de  Simolin  had 
the  greatest  desire  to  converse  with  me  before  m}^ 
departure,  and  that  he  calculated  on  breakfasting 
with  us  next  day. 

"M.  de  Simolin  said  the  most  polite  and  obliging 
things  to  me ;  that,  having  known  me  well  by  rep- 
utation  w^hilst  he  was  ambassador  in  England,  and 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  301 

since  he  had  come  to  France,  he  had  already  pro- 
posed me  to  his  sovereign  as  commander  of  the  fleet 
in  the  Black  Sea,  etc.,  and  that  he  expected  her  im- 
perial majesty  Avould  make  me  proposals  in  conse- 
quence. 1  did  not  yet  look  upon  the  affair  as  seri- 
ous ;  but  I  was  much  flattered  with  the  politeness 
of  M.  de  Simolin,  and  endeavored  to  express  to  him 
my  sense  of  it.  When  he  had  left  the  house,  Mr. 
Littlepage  assured  me  that  he  had  written  to  his 
court,  that '  if  her  imperial  majesty  confided  to  me 
the  chief  command  of  her  fleet  on  the  Black  Sea, 
with  carte  hlanche^  he  would  answer  for  it  that  in 
less  than  a  year  I  should  make  Constantinople 
tremble.' 

"  In  Denmark  I  put  in  train  a  treaty  between 
that  power  and  the  United  States ;  but  it  was  in- 
terrupted by  the  arrival  of  a  courier  from  St.  Peters- 
burg, despatched  express  by  the  empress,  to  invite 
me  to  repair  to  her  court. 

"Though  I  foresaw  many  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  mv  enterins^  the  service  of  Kussia,  I  believed  that 
I  could  not  avoid  going  to  St.  Petersburg,  to  thank 
the  empress  for  the  favorable  opinion  she  had  con- 
ceived of  me.  I  transferred  the  treaty  going  for- 
ward at  Copenhagen  to  Paris,  to  be  concluded  there, 
and  set  out  for  St.  Petersburg  by  Sweden.  At 
Stockholm  I  stayed  but  one  night,  to  see  Count  Pas- 
oumorsky.  Want  of  time  prevented  me  from 
appearing  at  court. 

"  At  Gresholra  I  was  stopped  by  the  ice,  which 
prevented  me  from  crossing  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia, 


302  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

and  even  from  approaching  the  first  of  the  isles  of 
the  passage.  After  having  made  several  unsuccess- 
ful efforts  to  get  to  Finland  by  the  Isles,  I  imagined 
that  it  might  be  practicable  to  effect  my  object  by 
doubling  the  ice  to  the  southward,  and  entering  the 
Baltic  Sea. 

"  This  enterprise  was  very  daring,  and  had  never 
before  been  attempted  ;  but  by  the  north  the  roads 
were  impracticable,  and,  knowing  that  the  empress 
expected  me  from  day  to  day,  I  could  not  think  of 
going  back  by  Elsineur. 

"  I  left  Gresholm  early  one  morning,  in  an  un- 
decked passage  boat,  about  thirty  feet  in  length.  I 
made  another  boat  follow,  of  half  that  size.  This 
last  was  for  dragging  over  the  cakes  of  ice,  and  for 
passing  from  one  to  another,  to  gain  the  coast  of 
Finland.  I  durst  not  make  my  project  known  to 
the  boatmen,  which  would  have  been  the  sure  means 
of  deterring  them  from  it.  After  endeavoring,  as 
before,  to  gain  the  first  isle,  I  made  them  steer  for 
the  south,  and  we  kept  along  the  coast  of  Sweden 
all  the  day,  finding  with  difficulty  room  enough  to 
pass  between  the  ice  and  the  shore.  Towards  night, 
being  almost  opposite  Stockholm,  pistol  in  hand,  I 
forced  the  boatmen  to  enter  the  Baltic  Sea,  and 
steer  to  the  east.  We  ran  towards  the  coast  of  Fin- 
land. All  night  the  wind  was  fair,  and  we  hoped 
to  land  next  day.  This  we  found  impossible.  The 
ice  did  not  permit  us  to  approach  the  shore,  which 
we  only  saw  from  a  distance.  It  was  impossible  to 
regain  the  Swedish  side,  the  wind  being  strong  and 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  303 

directly  contrary.  I  had  no  other  course  to  adopt 
but  to  make  for  the  Gulf  of  Finland.  There  was  a 
small  compass  in  the  boat,  and  I  fixed  the  lamp  of 
my  traveling  carriage  so  as  to  throw  a  light  on  it. 

"  On  the  second  night  we  lost  the  small  boat, 
which  was  sunk ;  but  the  men  saved  themselves  in 
the  large  one,  which  with  dilRculty  escaped  the 
same  fate.  At  the  end  of  four  days  we  landed  at 
Reval,  in  Livonia,  which  was  regarded  as  a  kind  of 
miracle.  Having  satisfied  the  boatmen  for  their 
services  and  their  loss,  I  gave  them  a  good  pilot, 
with  the  provisions  necessary  for  making  their  home- 
ward voyage,  when  the  weather  should  become 
more  favorable. 

"  I  arrived  at  St.  Petersburg  in  the  evening  on 
the  23d  of  April,  old  style,  and  on  the  25th  had  my 
first  audience  of  the  empress.  Her  majesty  gave 
me  so  flattering  a  reception,  and  up  to  the  period  of 
my  departure  treated  me  w^ith  so  much  distinction, 
that  I  was  entirely  captivated,  and  put  myself  into 
her  hands  without  making  any  stipulation  for  my 
personal  advantage.  I  demanded  but  one  favor, 
'  that  she  would  never  condemn  without  hearing  me.' 

"On  the  Yth  of  May  I  set  out  from  the  imperial 
palace  of  Sarscosello  carrying  with  me  a  letter  from 
her  majesty  to  his  highness  tlie  Prince  Marshal 
Potemkin  at  St.  Elizabeth,  w^here  I  arrived  on  the 
19th.  The  prince  marshal  received  me  with  much 
kindness,  and  destined  me  the  command  of  the  fleet 
of  Sebastopol,  against  the  capitan-pacha,  who,  he 
supposed,  intended  to  make  descents  in  the  Crimea. 


304  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

His  highness  was  mistaken  in  this,  and  the  next  day 
he  received  information  that  the  capitan  was  at 
anchor  within  Kinbourn,  having  come  to  succor 
Oczakow  with  a  hundred  and  twenty  armed  vessels 
and  other  armed  craft. 

"  The  prince  marshal  then  requested  me  to  assume 
command  of  the  naval  force  stationed  in  the  Liman 
(which  is  at  the  embouchure  of  the  Dneiper),  to 
act  against  the  capitan-pacha  till  Oczakow  should 
fall.  I  considered  this  change  as  a  mark  of  con- 
fidence flattering  to  myself;  and  having  received 
my  orders,  I  set  out  on  the  same  day  for  Cherson, 
in  company  with  the  Chevalier  de  Ribas,  Brigadier 
du  Jour  of  the  prince  marshal.  He  w^as  ordered  to 
make  all  the  arrangements  necessary  to  place  me  in 
command.  At  parting,  the  prince  marshal  promised 
me  '  to  bring  forward  his  troops  without  loss  of 
time,  to  cooperate  with  the  maritime  force  he  had 
intrusted  to  my  command ; '  and  on  the  journey  M. 
de  Ribas  told  me,  ^  that  all  the  force  of  the  Liman, 
comprehending  that  of  the  Prince  of  ^N'assau,  would 
be  under  my  orders.' 

"  I  spent  but  one  evening  and  night  at  Cherson. 
But  even  this  short  period  was  enough  to  show  that 
I  had  entered  on  a  critical  and  disagreeable  service. 
Rear  Admiral  Mordwinoff,  chief  of  the  admiralty, 
did  not  affect  to  disguise  his  displeasure  at  my  ar- 
rival ;  and  though  he  had  orders  from  the  prince 
marshal  to  communicate  to  me  all  the  details  con- 
cerning the  force  in  the  Liman,  and  to  put  me  in 
possession  of  the  silk  flao^  belonging  to  my  rank  as 


CA3IPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  305 

rear-admiral,  he  gave  himself  not  the  least  trouble  to 
comply  therewith. 

"  We  set  out  earl}^  next  morning  for  Glouboca, 
the  armament  of  the  Liman  being  at  anchor  very 
near  that  place,  in  the  roads  of  Schiroque,  between 
the  bar  of  the  Dnieper  and  the  embouchure  of  the 
river  Bog.  We  went  on  board  the  Wolodimer  before 
midday,  where  we  found  that  Brigadier  Alexiano 
had  assembled  all  the  commanders  to  draw  them 
into  a  cabal  against  my  authority.  I  may  mention 
here,  that  this  man  was  a  Greek  by  birth,  as  ignorant 
of  seamanship  as  of  military  affairs;  Tvho,  under  an 
exterior  and  manners  the  most  gross,  concealed  in- 
finite cunning ;  and,  by  an  impertinent  roughness 
of  discourse,  had  the  address  to  pass  for  a  blunt, 
honest  man.  Though  a  subject  of  Turkey,  it  was 
alleged  that  he  made  war  with  the  Mussulmans  by 
attacking  their  commerce  in  the  Archipelago  on  his 
own  authority,  and  that  he  had  followed  this  means 
of  enriching  himself  up  to  the  period  that  Count 
D'Orloff  arrived  with  the  Russian  fleet.  Thouofh  I 
do  not  affirm  the  fact,  several  persons  of  credit  have 
assured  me  that  there  are  often  pirates  who  infest 
the  coast,  and  the  isles  between  Constantinople  and 
Egypt,  w^ho  attack  the  commerce  of  all  nations,  and 
run  down  the  vessels  after  having  seized  the  cargoes 
and  cut  the  throats  of  the  crews.  Alexiano  had 
been  employed  by  Count  D'Orloff.  He  had  reached 
the  grade  of  captain  de  haul  lord,  with  the  rank  of 
brigadier.  He  felt  his  spirits  ruffled  in  the  first  in- 
stance, and  afterwards  made  great  merit  with  the 
20 


306  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

prince  marshal,  of  the  sacrifice  which  he  affected  to 
make  in  serving  under  me.  He  said  that,  if  he  with- 
drew, all  the  other  officers  would  do  the  same.  The 
prince  marshal  sent  presents  to  his  wife,  and  wrote 
him  kindly,  persuading  him  to  remain  in  the  service. 
All  the  objections  he  made  were  bravadoes,  to 
enable  himself  to  make  something  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty ;  for,  from  what  followed,  I  know  that,  had 
he  left  the  service,  it  would  have  been  alone,  and 
that  no  one  would  have  regretted  his  absence. 

"  To  give  time  to  those  angry  spirits  to  become 
calm,  and  to  be  able  to  decide  on  the  part  I  should 
take,  I  proposed  to  Brigadier  de  Ribas,  that  we 
should  together  make  a  journey  to  Kinbourn,  to  see 
the  entrance  of  Dnieper  and  reconnoiter  the  posi- 
tion and  strength  of  the  Turkish  fleet  and  flotilla. 
At  my  return  all  the  officers  appeared  contented, 
and  I  hoisted  my  flag  on  board  the  Wolodimer  on 
the  26th  of  May,  1788. 

"  The  Prince  of  Nassau-Siegen,  whom  I  had  known 
slightly  at  Paris,  told  me  '  that  if  we  gained  any  ad- 
vantage over  the  Turks,  it  was  necessary  to  exag- 
o-erate  it  to  the  utmost ;  and  that  this  was  the  counsel 
the  Chevalier  de  Ribas  had  given  him.'  I  replied, 
'  that  I  never  had  adopted  that  method  of  making 
myself  of  consequence.' 

"At  the  opening  of  this  campaign  the  squadron 
of  Cherson  was  obliged  to  remain  for  two  days  in 
the  road  of  Schiroque,  till  the  troops  should  embark 
which  were  to  form  part  of  the  crew.  The  Prince 
of  Nassau,  who  had  been  appointed  commander  of 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  307 

the  flotilla,  and  who  had  by  this  time  received  on 
board  the  troops  intended  for  him,  durst  not  venture 
to  advance  four  or  five  versts  to  take  station  op- 
posite to  the  Bog,  without  being  escorted  by  three 
frigates.  The  Prince  of  JSTassau  made  so  many  ob- 
jections to  the  danger  of  his  situation  that,  on  the  28th 
of  May,  the  day  following,  Rear- Admiral  Chevalier 
Paul  Jones,  commander  of  the  squadron,  reinforced 
him  with  a  fourth  frigate. 

"  On  the  29th,  the  troops  being  all  on  board,  the 
squadron  advanced  and  got  beyond  the  flotilla, 
which  lay  scattered  about  at  anchor  without  any 
observance  of  order.  The  squadron  drew  up  op- 
posite the  first  village,  to  the  west  of  the  Bog,  in  an 
obscure  angle,  and  thus  commanded,  by  a  cross  fire, 
the  only  passage  of  the  Liman.  This  lies  between 
two  sand  banks,  through  which  the  Turks  must  ad- 
vance with  their  heavy  vessels.  By  this  position 
the  rear-admiral  covered  Cherson  and  the  country 
on  both  banks  of  the  Liman,  made  good  the  free 
passage  of  the  Bog  to  the  army  of  the  prince  mar- 
shal, and  held  the  Turks  in  check  in  any  attempt 
they  might  make  against  Kinbourn. 

"  The  Prince  of  Nassau  at  this  time  talked  a  great 
deal  of  projects  of  descents,  surprises  and  attacks, 
but  without  any  rational  plan. 

"  A  battery  having  been  raised  upon  the  point  of 
Stanislaus,  the  Prince  of  Nassau  could  not  help  ex- 
claiming, '  that  he  was  delighted  with  it,  as  in  case  of 
necessity  he  might  there  find  shelter.'  He  was  not 
ignorant  that  the  rear-admiral  could  not  have  re- 


308  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

treated  as  several  of  his  vessels  were  already  within 
a  few  inches  of  getting  aground.  The  rear  admiral 
was  aware  that  the  Turks,  having  a  very  superior 
force,  would  not  give  any  opportunity  of  attacking 
them  :  and  that  it  was  therefore  necessarv  to  main- 
tain  the  strong  position  he  had  taken  till  the  arrival 
of  Prince  Poterakin,  in  order  to  advance  in  concert 
and  combine  their  operations  with  those  of  the  land 
forces. 

"  In  the  meanwhile  General  Suvorrof,  command- 
ant of  Kinbourn,  made  the  rear-admiral  responsible 
for  the  safety  of  that  place  ;  while  Brigadier  Alex- 
iano  and  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  on  their  part,  did  all 
that  was  possible  to  make  him  distrustful  of  the 
means  which  he  possessed  for  attack  or  defense. 
They  alleged  that  the  vessels  forming  the  flotilla, 
having  been  constructed  merely  to  convey  the  car- 
riages of  the  empress  in  her  late  progress,  might 
be  expected,  at  the  first  attack,  to  sink  under  the 
enormous  weight  of  the  guns. 

"•  The  squadron  had  a  formidable  appearance,  but 
little  real  strength.  The  Wolodimer  and  the  Alex- 
ander were  but  half  armed  ;  and  both  vessels  were  al- 
ready within  a  few  inches  of  touching  the  bottom,  so 
shallow  is  the  Liman  for  vessels  of  war.  In  this  most 
critical  situation,  having  no  orders  from  his  highness 
the  prince  marshal  for  his  guidance,  and  knowing 
nothing  of  his  intentions,  nor  of  the  actual  position 
of  his  army,  the  rear-admiral  resolved  on  assembling 
a  council  of  war,  in  conformity  to  the  ordinance  of 
Peter  the  Great.     The  council  he  opened  by  a  speech 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  309 

suited  to  the  occasion,  the  main  object  of  which  was 
to  show  the  necessity  of  a  perfect  understanding 
between  the  squadron  and  the  flotilla  ;  and  that, 
uniting  heart  and  hand,  forgetting  all  personal  con- 
siderations, they  should  determine  to  conquer,  as  the 
true  glory  of  a  patriot  was  to  be  useful  to  his 
country. 

"  He  proposed  to  them  nine  questions.  It  was  de- 
cided to  act  together,  mingle  together,  in  one  and  the 
same  order  of  battle  ;  that  if  the  wind  should  be 
from  a  point  from  IN",  to  S.  E.  the  prince  should 
detach  a  part  of  the  flotilla  at  1  a.  m.,  and  should  be 
supported  at  daybreak  by  the  squadron  of  the  rear- 
admiral  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  enemy's  small 
craft,  which  were  near  the  first  village  east  of  Ocza- 
kow;  and  that  the  best  position  for  the  squadron 
and  flotila  in  the  Liman,  to  cover  Kinbourn  and  act 
on  the  defensive  until  the  approach  of  the  army  under 
Prince  Potemkin,  was  four  versts  further  in  ad- 
vance, opposite  the  first  village  east  of  Oczakow,  in 
a  straight  line,  N.  N.  E.,  S.  S.  W.  The  batteries  in 
the  spaces  between  the  ships,  and  a  corps  of  reserve, 
composed  of  a  division  of  the  flotilla,to  cover  the  right 
wing.  The  council  was  to  have  met  again  next  day 
to  decide  on  the  other  points  which  the  rear-admiral 
had  to  propose  ;  among  which  was  the  best  manner 
of  attack  and  defense,  and  the  general  arrangement 
of  signals,  which  ought  all,  in  his  opinion,  to  be  made 
on  board  of  the  same  vessel ;  but  M.  de  Nassau  and 
the  Brigadier  Alexiano  opposed  them,  and  the 
council  did  not  reassemble  as  proposed. 


310  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

"  On  the  6th  of  June,  at  2  in  the  morning,  the 
Prince  of  Nassau  advanced,  as  had  been  previously 
agreed  on,  with  the  greater  part  of  the  flotilla; 
but  in  place  of  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the 
vessels  forming  the  enemy's  advanced  guard,  he  re- 
tired at  daybreak  before  a  very  inferior  force,  and 
without  offering  the  smallest  resistance ;  and  the 
Turks  chased  him,  keeping  up  a  cannonade,  into  the 
midst  of  the  squadron  which  had  advanced  to  take 
the  position  assigned  to  them. 

"  The  precipitate  retreat  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau 
inspirited  the  Turks  so  much  that  during  the  night, 
between  the  6th  and  Tth,  they  drew  up  their  flotilla 
in  two  divisions  in  a  shallow  close  by  their  own 
shore.  The  first  of  these  divisions  had  by  day-dawn 
advanced  within  cannon  shot  of  our  reserve,  which 
had  been  posted  the  previous  night  on  the  right  wing. 

"  At  sunrise  the  Turks  made  sail ;  and  Brigadier 
Alexiano  ran  upon  the  deck  of  the  "Wolodimer  half- 
naked,  exclaiming  like  a  frantic  man  in  French  and 
Pussian  that  the  Turks  were  going  to  attack  and 
board  us,  and  that  we  would  be  blown  to  pieces  for 
having  been  so  foolish  as  to  leave  our  former  posi- 
tion. He  had,  notwithstanding,  in  the  council  of 
war,  given  his  voice  in  favor  of  the  position  we  now 
actually  held.  Brigadier  Ribas,  the  captain  and  all 
the  crew  were  witnesses  of  his  extravagant  behavior. 

"  This  proved  a  false  alarm ;  the  Turkish  fleet  did 
not  stir. 

^'  The  prince  of  Nassau  came  on  board  the  Wolo- 
dimer,  and   the   rear-admiral  proposed  to  him  to 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  31 1 

reconnoiter  the  enemy's  fleet  and  flotilla.  As 
they  advanced  together  the  first  division  of  the 
Turkish  flotilla  began  to  fire  from  tlfeir  canoes,  and 
raised  their  anchors  and  rode  forward  towards  our 
reserve,  which  they  attacked  briskly.  At  the  same 
time  several  corps  intended  to  establish  a  post  or 
battery  to  act  on  our  flank.  As  our  reserve  had 
been  posted  to  cover  our  right  wing,  the  prince  of 
]N"assau,  who  knew  not  what  to  do,  proposed  to  make 
it  draw  up  in  the  form  of  a  crochet  de  honlette,  the 
better  to  sustain  the  assault.  The  rear-admiral  told 
him  that,  on  the  contrary,  it  was  necessary  to  lift  the 
anchors  with  the  utmost  despatch,  and  to  form  in 
line  of  battle  to  meet  the  attack  of  the  Turks.  The 
combat  having  commenced  according  to  plan,  the 
rear-admiral  hastened  along  our  line  to  issue  orders 
to  the  squadron,  and  above  all,  to  make  the  re- 
mainder of  the  flotilla,  posted  between  the  ships  and 
upon  the  left  wing,  advance.  The  wind  being  ad- 
verse, he  made  these  vessels  be  towed  by  the  ships' 
boats  and  other  boats  attached  to  the  squadron,  and 
by  an  oblique  movement  formed  in  front  line,  with 
the  intention  of  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  enemy, 
and  galling  him  by  a  cross-fire.  As  soon  as  the  capi tan- 
pacha  perceived  the  maneuver  of  the  rear-admiral, 
he  came  forward  himself  in  his  kirlano:itch,  havins: 
a  very  favorable  wind,  and  made  the  second  division 
of  his  flotilla  advance.  At  this  time  our  reserve 
was  very  critically  situated.  A  double  chaloupe 
quitted  the  action,  and  four  of  our  galleys  were  in 
danger  of  being  captured.     The  Prince  of  iN'assau, 


312  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

who  did  not  relish  going  himself,  sent  Brigadier 
Corsacoff,  who  made  them  retreat.  Instead  of  re- 
maining with  the  reserve,  which,  being  without  a 
commander,  was  in  very  great  disorder,  the  Prince 
of  Nassau  quitted  his  own  post  and  stationed  him- 
self before  the  rear-admiral,  where  he  could  be  of  no 
use  whatever.  The  rear-admiral  went  into  the  same 
boat  with  the  prince  of  I^assau  and  again  issued  his 
orders  along  the  line.  Being  now  within  cannon- 
shot  of  the  enemy,  he  opened  fire,  advancing  always 
in  an  oblique  line  to  cut  off  his  retreat.  At  the 
same  time  he  despatched  Brigadier  Alexiano  to  en- 
deavor to  rally  the  vessels  of  the  reserve,  which  the 
Prince  of  Nassau  had  deserted  ;  but  Alexiano  con- 
tented himself  with  waving  his  hat  in  the  air  and 
shouting  from  behind  the  lines,  '  Fire,  my  boys,  on 
the  kirlangitch  of  the  capitan-pacha  ! ' 

"  When  the  line  led  on  by  the  rear-admiral  came 
to  close  fire  with  the  enemy,  their  flotilla  was  thrown 
into  the  utmost  confusion.  Our  reserve  gave  no 
farther  way,  and  the  enemy  was  placed  under  a 
cross-fire.  The  capitan-pacha  availed  himself  of  the 
only  resource  he  had  left ;  the  wind  being  in  his 
favor,  he  set  every  sail  to  Avithdraw  his  force.  Had 
he  remained  a  half  hour  longer  he  would  have  been 
surrounded.  Two  of  his  vessels  were  burnt  in  this 
affair.  The  flotilla  of  the  enemy  was  composed  of 
fifty -seven  vessels,  and  we  chased  them  up  to  their 
fleet.  The  rear-admiral,  who  had  directed  the  whole 
affair,  left  all  the  credit  of  it  to  the  prince  of 
Nassau. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  UMAN.  313 

"  All  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  capacity  of  this 
prince  from  the  circumstance  that,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  action,  he  requested  the  rear-admiral  to  bring 
forward  to  the  support  of  the  reserve  only  the 
vessels  posted  on  the  left  wing,  which  consisted  of 
one  galley  and  two  double  chaloupes.  Besides  the 
insufficiency  of  force,  these  vessels  had  a  very  long 
way  to  make,  and  that  against  the  wind. 

"  The  Turks  remained  quiet  for  some  time  after 
this.  The  Prince  of  Nassau,  who  had  scarce  spoken 
one  Avord  during  the  affair,  save  to  make  extrava- 
gant professions  of  regard  for  the  rear-admiral,  now 
began  to  give  himself  airs.  On  the  13th  of  June  he 
addressed  a  writing  of  an  extraordinary  character 
to  the  rear-admiral,  the  object  of  which  appeared  to 
be  that  an  advance  should  be  made  of  three  versts 
nearer  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  post  under  the 
batteries  of  Oczakow.  The  rear-admiral,  who  could 
perceive  no  advantage  to  the  service  in  such  a 
movement,  refused  his  concurrence,  the  prince  mar- 
shal having  approved  his  plan  of  acting  on  the 
defensive,  or,  at  least,  until  the  moment  when  the 
Turks  might  afford  us  an  opportunity  of  attacking 
them  to  advantage.  Had  he  agreed,  the  movement 
would  have  been  fatal  to  Kussia,  as  will  be  seen  by 
what  follows . 

"  By  the  16th  of  June  the  patience  of  the  capitan- 
pacha  was  exhausted.  He  brought  from  his  grand 
fleet  without  Kinbourn  two  thousand  picked  men 
to  reinforce  the  body  under  the  walls  of  Oczakow ; 
and  being  strengthened  still  farther  b}^  the  troops 


814  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JOXES. 

of  the  garrison,  he  advanced  with  his  whole  fleet 
and  flotilla,  and  with  a  fair  wind,  into  the  Liman  to 
attack  and  board  us.  The  ship,  which  bore  one  of  the 
admiral's  flags,  steered  right  towards  the  Wolodimer 
from  the  commencement  of  the  movement.  "When 
within  two  versts  of  us,  or  a  little  more,  this  ship 
got  aground,  and  all  the  vessels  which  accompanied 
it  immediately  dropped  anchor.  It  was  then  about 
two  in  the  afternoon. 

"  The  rear-admiral  summoned  a  council  of  war  to 
consult  on  what  should  be  done.  He  addressed  the 
council,  at  which  were  present  all  the  commanders 
of  the  squadron  and  the  flotilla,  and  concluded  by 
telling  them  '  that  they  must  make  up  their  minds 
to  conquer  or  die  for  their  country.' 

"  The  wind,  which  was  rather  fresh,  being  against 
us,  the  only  thing  proposed  by  the  rear-admiral 
that  was  found  practicable  was  to  draw  up  our 
force  in  an  obtuse  angle,  by  bringing  forward,  by 
anchors,  the  right  of  the  line  up  to  the'center.  This 
movement  was  completed  before  midnight.  The 
wind  had  shifted  to  IST.ISr.E.,  and  at  break  of  day  on 
the  17th  the  rear-admiral  made  signal,  and  the  whole 
squadron  immediately  set  sail  to  commence  the 
attack  on  the  Turks. 

"  The  Turks  got  into  confusion  the  instant  this 
maneuver  was  perceived.  They  raised  their  anchors 
or  cut  their  cables  with  the  greatest  precipitation, 
and  not  the  shadow  of  order  remained  in  their  fleet. 
Our  squadron  advanced  in  line  of  battle  with  an 
imposing  and  formidable  appearance,  so  that  the 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  315 

Turks  knew  not  how  weak  it  really  was.     As  our 
flotilla  had  been  very  slow  in  weighing  anchor,  the 
rear-admiral  was  obliged  to  make  the  squadron  halt 
twice  to  wait  for  it.     At  length,  the  flotilla  being 
always  last,  the  squadron  opened  fire  on  the  enemy, 
of  whom  the  person  second  in  command  who  had 
flown  about  like  a  fool,  quickly  ran  his  ship  on  a 
sand  bank  on  the  south  of  the  Liman.     There  was 
no   longer    hope    for   him;  from   the   moment   he 
grounded  he  was  ours.     The  enemy  still  kept  flying 
about,  and  always  in  the  greatest  disorder.     The 
rear-admiral  ordered  his  ship  (the  Wolodimer)  to 
be  steered  to  within  pistol  shot  of  the  vessel  of  the 
capitan-pacha,  but  the  latter  again  ran  aground  upon 
a  sand  bank ;  and  a  few  minutes  afterwards  the 
Brigadier    Alexiano    gave   orders  in   the  Eussian 
language,  and  unknown  to  the  rear-admiral,  to  drop 
the  Wolodimer's   anchor.     It   was   pretended  that 
there  were  but  fifteen  feet  of  water  a  little  way  in 
advance  of  the  ship,  which  was  not  true.     A  con- 
siderable time  before  this  the  squadron  had  been 
taken   on  the  right  flank  by  the  Turkish  flotilla, 
drawn  up  on  the  shallows  near  the  bank  to  the  east 
of  Oczakow,  and  commanded  by  the  capitan-pacha 
himself.     The   flotilla  annoyed  the  squadron  con- 
siderably, by  incessantly  throv^ing  in  along  our  line 
both  bombs  and  balls  of  great  size.     Wanting  depth 
of  water,  our  frigates  could  not  advance  far  enough 
to  dislodge  them,  and  besides,  they  found  that  their 
guns  were  too  small.     The  capitan-pacha  sunk  one 
of  our  frigates,  named  the  Little  Alexander,  by  a 


316  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES.  , 

bomb,  at  the  side  of  the  Wolodimer,  and  at  the  very 
instant  Brigadier  Alexiano  made  the  anchor  be  cast. 
Our  flotilla  still  lagged  behind,  but  it  did  at  last 
advance.  Having  passed  through  the  squadron  in 
the  greatest  disorder,  and  vs^ithout  the  least  appear- 
ance of  being  under  command,  instead  of  pursuing 
the  flying  Turks,  the  flotilla  swarmed  round  the 
Turkish  ships  which  were  aground,  like  a  hive  of 
bees. 

"  The  rear-admiral  commanded  Brigadier  Alexiano 
to  get  together  some  vessels  of  our  flotilla  to  dis- 
lodge the  Turkish  flotilla.  At  the  same  moment 
the  rear-admiral  advanced  in  his  boat  toward  the  left 
wing,  where  the  Prince  of  Kassau  was  with  his  body 
of  reserve  employed  to  very  little  purpose,  in  sur- 
rounding the  first  Turkish  vessel  which  was  aground, 
leaning  on  one  side,  and  firing  at  it.  The  rear- 
admiral  entreated  him  to  bring  or  send  the  reserve 
to  act  against  the  Turkish  flotilla  upon  our  right 
flank,  and  informed  him  of  the  misfortune  which 
had  befallen  the  Little  Alexander  ;  but  M.  de  Xassau 
remained  quietly  behind  his  batteries,  and  made  no 
movement  to  dislodge  the  flotilla  of  the  enemy. 

"  The  rear-admiral  then  met  Brigadier  Corsacoff, 
to  whom  he  gave  orders  similar  to  those  he  had 
given  to  M.  Alexiano  ;  and  these  two  officers  hav- 
ing got  together  as  many  vessels  of  the  flotilla  as 
they  could  collect,  assisted  our  frigates  in  dislodging 
and  chasing  the  Turkish  flotilla  even  till  under  the 
walls  of  Oczakow.  M.  de  Corsacoff  was  a  brave 
and  an  intelligent  man  ;  he  did  not  affect  to  have 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  317 

done  anything  wonderful.  Alexiano  was  a  man  of 
limited  talent  and  of  questionable  courage,  but  his 
vanity  was  excessive.  He  pretended  to  have  towed 
a  battery  to  within  pistol  shot  of  the  enemy's 
flotilla;  but  M.  Akraatoff,  who  commanded  that 
batterv,  declared  that  neither  he  nor  anv  one  of  our 
people  ever  was  nearer  the  Turkish  flotilla  than 
half-cannon  shot. 

''  The  Turkish  fleet  was  now  distant.  The  Prince 
of  Nassau  was  told  that  the  admiral's  flag,  which 
had  been  displayed  on  the  vessel  of  the  capitan- 
pacha,  was  struck,  and  he  hastily  advanced  to  claim 
it.  The  ship  of  the  capitan-pacha,  like  the  other, 
was  a  la  hande,  that  is  to  say,  it  leaned  much  to 
one  side,  and  consequently  could  not  make  use  of 
its  guns.  As  the  flag  of  the  capitan-pacha  fell  into 
the  water  from  the  top  of  the  main-mast,  having 
been  struck  down  by  a  ball,  it  is  not  difficult  to  dis- 
cover that  the  vessel  which  had  flred  this  ball  was 
in  no  danger  of  being  touched  by  case  shot.  The 
Zaporavians  picked  up  the  flag  from  the  water,  and 
the  Prince  of  Nassau,  a  long  w^hile  afterwards,  had 
the  glory  (which  he  turned  to  good  account)  of  hav- 
ing snatched  it  from  their  hands.  The  rear-admiral 
might  have  claimed  at  least  half  of  this  flag,  as  he 
had  his  hands  on  it  at  the  same  moment  with  the 
Prince  of  Nassau  ;  but  he  regarded  it  as  a  thing  of 
very  little  consequence. 

"  Brand cougles  had  been  thrown  into  the  two 
Turkish  vessels  which  were  aground,  and  they  were 
burnt.    Was  this  a  good  or  a  bad  piece  of  service  ? 


318  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

These  two  vessels  were  ours,  from  the  circumstance 
of  having  run  aground,  and  because  their  crews  had 
been  left  by  their  countrymen  under  the  guns  of  our 
squadron.  Wherefore  did  the  flotilla  interfere  with 
them?  Ought  it  not  rather  to  have  pursued  the 
flying  Turks,  who  were  not  yet  under  the  protection 
of  the  guns  of  Oczakow  ?  Our  flotilla  had  received 
no  injury,  and  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  shallow- 
ness of  the  water. 

^'  Having  first  sounded,  the  rear-admiral  made  the 
squadron  advance  another  verst,  and  took  post  in 
a  right  line,  barely  out  of  shot  of  Oczakow,  and  in 
line  with  the  last  Turkish  ship  that  had  been  run 
aground  and  taken.  Fire  soon  after  broke  out  in 
this  prize,  which  had  been  imprudentl}^  fired  upon 
with  brandcougles.  The  fleet  and  flotilla  of  the 
Turks  now  drew  up  in  a  line  parallel  to  ours,  and 
under  the  walls  of  Oczakow. 

"  How  imbecile  does  the  human  mind  become 
under  the  influence  of  sudden  panic !  The  rear- 
admiral,  an  hour  after  the  affair,  advanced  in  his 
boat  and  took  soundings  all  along  the  Turkish  line, 
opposite  the  walls  of  Oczakow,  and  wnthin  reach  of 
case  shot,  and  not  a  single  gun  was  fired  upon  him. 

"Previously  to  taking  command  of  the  squadron, 
the  rear-admiral  had  gone  to  Kinbourn  with  the 
Chevalier  Kibas  brigadier  du  joiir,  to  the  prince 
marshal,  to  reconnoiter  the  position  and  force  of  the 
fleet  and  flotilla  under  the  capitan-pacha,  and  to 
examine  the  entrance  of  the  Liman.  They  arrived 
at  Kinbourn  at  the  very  time  that  the  capitan-pacha 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  31^ 

had  detached  twenty-one  vessels  of  war  from  his 
fleet,  and  with  that  force  entered  the  road  of  Ocza- 
kow,  the  wind  now  permitting  him  to  enter  the 
Liman,  where  his  flotilla  and  some  transport  ships 
were  already  stationed.  The  rear-admiral  was  so 
struck  at  finding  the  tongue  of  land  at  Kinbourn 
without  any  battery  or  block  fort,  that  he  instantly 
spoke  of  it  to  the  commandant.  General  Suvorrof. 
This  tongue  of  land,  from  its  position,  commands 
the  only  passage  by  w^hich  large  vessels  can  either 
enter  or  come  out  of  the  Liman,  and  the  fortress  of 
Kinbourn  is  far  too  distant  to  be  able  to  command 
this  passage.  The  rear-admiral  proposed  to  establish 
one  or  more  strong  batteries  upon  this  strip  of  land, 
and  M.  de  Eibas  seconded  the  proposition.  After 
considerable  dela}^  General  Suvorrof  resolved  to 
establish  a  block  fort  with  heavy  cannon  upon  this 
point,  and  a  battery  farther  within.  But  the  capitan- 
pacha  had  already  got  the  twenty-one  ships  in  ques- 
tion into  the  Liman. 

"  At  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  between  the  ITth  and 
18th  of  June,  the  capitan-pacha  attempted  to  carry 
the  remains  of  his  squadron,  which  had  been  defeated 
at  eve,  out  of  the  Liman  ;  but  the  block  fort  and 
battery  fired  on  his  ships,  of  which  nine  of  the  larg- 
est were  forced  aground  upon  the  sand  bank  which 
runs  out  from  Oczakow,  at  a  distance  of  cannon  shot 
from  the  block  fort. 

"  The  block  fort  and  battery  fired  on  the  enemy 
the  whole  night,  and  at  daybreak  General  Suvorrof 
sent  to  us,  requesting  that  we  would  send  vessels  to 


320  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

take  possession  of  the  ships  of  the  enemy  which  had 
got  aground.  The  rear-admiral  wished  to  send  frig- 
ates ;  but  Brigadier  Alexiano  assured  him  that  he 
would  run  great  risk  of  losing  them.  The  current 
there,  he  said,  '  was  like  that  of  a  mill-dam,  and  the 
bottom  was  so  bad  that  anchors  would  not  hold.' 

"  It  was,  accordingly,  resolved  to  proceed  with  the 
flotilla  ;  and  Alexiano,  who  had  his  private  reasons, 
set  out  with  the  Prince  of  Xassau.  The  flotilla  went 
pell-mell,  and  without  any  sort  of  order  or  plan,  upon 
the  nine  ships  aground,  and  fired  brandcougles  into 
them  without  mercy.  It  was  in  vain  the  wretched 
Turks  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  begged  for 
quarter  on  their  knees !  Above  three  thousand  of 
them  were  burnt  with  their  ships.  By  some  chance 
two  of  these  vessels,  the  least  and  the  largest,  did 
not  take  fire  ;  the  one  was  a  corvette,  very  indifi'er- 
ently  armed,  carrying  one  battery  and  four  pieces 
between  decks.  The  other  was  a  small  brigantine, 
of  French  construction,  armed  with  fourteen  small 
guns. 

"  Neither  the  Prince  of  Nassau  nor  Alexiano  was 
to  be  seen  at  this  time.  They  were  together,  and  at 
some  distance,  during  this  frightful  carnage  ;  and  it 
was  afterwards  asked  of  them  if  the}^  had  not,  during 
this  time,  been  at  Kinbourn.  As  the  greatest  con- 
fusion reigned  among  the  vessels  of  the  flotilla,  though 
our  loss  was  not  great,  there  is  no  doubt  that  part 
of  it  was  owing  to  Pussian  bullets. 

"  The  army  of  Prince  Potemkin  having  come  up 
on  the  27th  of  June,  the  Prince  of  Nassau  had  orders 


The  defeat  of  the  Turks  by  the  Russian  fleet  under  Paul  Jones.— Page  321. 

Life  of  Paxil  Jones. 


CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  LIMAN.  30 ^ 

to  attack  and  destroy,  or  capture,  the  Turkish  flotilla 
which  lay  under  the  walls  of  Oczakow  ;  and  the  rear- 
admiral  was  commanded  to  give  him  every  assistance 
that  might  be  useful.  In  pursuance  of  these  orders, 
on  the  1st  of  July,  at  one  in  the  morning,  the  flotilla 
advanced.  The  rear-admiral  had  sent  all  the  cha- 
loupes  and  barcasses  belonging  to  the  squadron  to 
haul  out  the  vessels  of  the  flotilla.  The  prince  mar- 
shal had  taken  the  trouble  to  arrange  the  plan  of 
attack  himself,  but  his  plan  was  not  followed. 

"  At  daybreak  our  flotilla,  having  advanced  only 
within  cannon  shot,  opened  fire  upon  the  Turkish 
flotilla,  and  on  the  place.  The  current  having  carried 
several  of  our  batteries  and  double  chaloupes  rather 
too  far  to  leeward,  the  rear-admiral  had  them  hauled 
up  by  the  boats  and  barcasses  of  the  squadron,  and 
set  the  example  himself  with  the  chaloupe  in  which 
he  was.  The  Turks  set  fire  themselves  to  a  little 
frigate  which  they  had  prepared  as  a  fire  ship,  and 
placed  at  anchor  to  the  northeast  of  Fort  Hassan 
Pacha. 

"  At  six  in  the  morning  the  rear  admiral  advanced 
considerably  in  front  of  the  flotilla  to  seize  five  of 
the  enemy's  galleys  which  lay  within  case  shot  to 
the  east  of  Fort  Hassan.  The  position  of  these  gal- 
leys, between  the  cross  fire  of  our  flotilla  on  one  side, 
and  that  of  Fort  Hassan,  the  Turkish  flotilla  and  the 
citadel  of  Oczakow  on  the  other,  rendered  this  a  very 
dangerous  enterprise.  Tlie  rear-admiral  boarded 
the  galley  which  lay  farthest  out,  and  had  it  towed 

out  of  danger  in  a  short  time  by  Lieutenant  Leff 
21 


322  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Fabrician.  He  afterwards  boarded  the  ^allev  of  the 
capitan-pacha,  which  lay  considerably  nearer  the 
fort.  From  unskilfulness,  and  excess  of  zeal,  a  young 
officer  cut  the  cable  of  this  galley  without  waiting 
for  orders  of  the  rear-admiral,  and  before  the  boats 
could  be  got  in  order  to  haul  it  out,  the  wind  drifted 
the  galley  towards  the  shore,  and  still  nearer  to  the 
fort.  The  rear-admiral  had  the  galley  lightened 
by  throwing  many  things  overboard.  After  much 
search  for  ropes  that  might  stretch  to  the  wreck  of 
the  burnt  frigate,  and  get  the  galley  afloat  by  that 
means,  the  plan  failed  from  the  ropes  not  being  long 
enough.  The  rear-admiral  was  very  unwilling  to 
yield  to  the  obstinate  opposition  of  the  Turks,  who 
fired  upon  him  from  all  their  bastions  and  from  the 
flotilla,  and  he  despatched  Lieutenant  Fox  to  the 
"Wolodiraer,  to  fetch  an  anchor  and  cable.  This  was 
a  certain  means  of  securing  his  object  in  spite  of  the 
enemy ;  and  in  waiting  the  return  of  the  lieutenant, 
he  left  the  galley  with  his  people,  and  assisted  again 
in  towing  the  batteries.  Before  the  return  of  Lieu- 
tenant Fox,  he  had,  however,  the  mortification  to 
see  tire  break  out  in  the  galley  of  the  capitan-pacha. 
He  at  first  believed  that  the  slaves  chained  on  board 
bad  found  means  to  escape,  and  had  set  fire  to  the 
vessel ;  but  he  had  afterwards  positive  proof  that 
Brigadier  Alexiano,  being  in  a  boat  at  the  time  with 
the  Prince  of  l^assau,  on  the  outside  of  the  flotilla, 
and  being  aware  of  the  intention  of  the  rear-admiral, 
swore  that  it  should  not  succeed,  and  sent  a  Greek 
canoe  to  set  fire  to  the  galley.     The  three  other 


CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  LHVIAN.  323 

Turkish  galleys  were  at  once  run  down  and  burnt 
by  brandcougles.  There  were  also  a  two-masted 
ship  and  a  large  bomb-vessel  near  Fort  Hassan 
Pacha.  This  includes  all  that  was  taken  or  des- 
troyed by  water,  save  fifty-two  prisoners  taken  by 
the  rear-admiral  in  the  two  galleys.  The  wretched 
beings  who  were  chained  in  the  galley  of  the  capitan- 
pacha  perished  there  in  the  flames ! 

"  The  prince  marshal  having  made  an  important 
diversion  on  the  land  side,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
advantage  was  not  taken  of  this  movement  to  seize 
the  remainder  of  the  enemy's  flotilla.  But  our  flo- 
tilla never  came  up  within  reach  of  grape-shot. 

"The  moment  the  ships  began  to  withdraw  from 
Oczakow,  the  Prince  of  Nassau  and  Brigadier  Alex- 
iano  hurried  straight  to  the  headquarters  of  the  prince 
marshal  to  relate  the  things  which  both  pretended 
they  had  performed.  In  a  few  minutes  after  the 
flotilla  began  to  retire  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  of 
which  I^assau  and  Alexiano  received  their  own  share 
before  reaching  headquarters. 

"Two  days  afterwards  Brigadier  Alexiano  re- 
turned on  board  the  Wolodimer,  having  caught  a 
malin:nant  fever  of  which  he  died  on  the  8th  of  Jul  v. 
The  Prince  of  Nassau,  who  had  made  use  of  him  in 
cabaling  against  me — God  knows  wherefore — neith- 
er visited  him  in  his  sickness,  nor  assisted  at  his 
funeral.  At  first  it  was  given  out  that  the  service 
must  sustain  the  loss  of  every  Greek  in  it  on  account 
of  his  death  ;  but  I  soon  experienced  the  reverse. 
Not  one  asked  to  be  dismissed  ;  they  remained  under 


324  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

my  command  with  the  Hussians,  and  were  more 
contented  than  before.  On  the  da}^  preceding  the 
death  of  Alexiano  he  had  received  incelligence  of 
having  been  promoted  two  grades ;  and  that  her 
majesty  had  bestowed  on  him  a  fine  estate,  and  peas- 
ants, in  White  Russia.  At  the  same  time  the  Prince 
of  Nassau  had  received  a  very  vakiable  estate,  with 
three  or  four  thousand  peasants,  also  in  White  Russia, 
and  the  militarv  order  of  St.  Geor(]:e,  of  the  second 
class.  Her  majesty  likewise  gave  him  liberty  to 
hoist  the  flag  of  vice-admiral  at  the  taking  of  Ocza- 
kow,  to  which  event  it  was  apparently  believed  he 
would  greatly  contribute.  I  receiv^ed  the  order  of 
St.  Anne,  an  honor  Avith  which  I  am  highh^  flattered, 
and  with  which  I  could  have  been  perfectl}^  satisfied 
had  others  been  recompensed  onl}^  in  the  same  pro- 
portion, and  according  to  the  merit  of  their  services. 
All  the  officers  of  the  flotilla  received  a  step  of  pro- 
motion and  the  gratuity  of  a  year's  pay.  The 
greater  part  of  them  also  obtained  the  order  of  St. 
George,  of  the  last  class.  Only  two  of  these  officers 
had  been  bred  to  the  sea  ;  none  of  the  others  had 
been  engaged  in  navigation.  The  officers  of  the 
squadron  under  my  command  were  almost  wholly 
marine  officers.  They  had  done  their  duty  well 
when  opposed  to  the  enemy  ;  but  they  obtained  no 
promotion,  no  mark  of  distinction,  no  pecuniary  at- 
tachment. On  promising  that  I  would  demand  jus- 
tice for  them  from  the  prince  marshal  at  the  close  of 
the  campaign,  they  stifled  their  vexation  and  made 
no  complaint. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  325 

"  It  ought  to  have  been  mentioned  in  its  proper 
place,  that  three  days  after  our  success  in  the  Liraau, 
Prince  Potemkin  arrived  at  Kin  bourn,  from  whence 
he  came  on  board  the  "Wolodimer  to  make  me  a  visit. 
He  was  accompanied  by  General  Count  de  Brandisky 
of  Poland,  the  Prince  de  Pepuin,  the  Prince  de  Ligne, 
General  de  Samoilow,  and  several  other  officers.  His 
highness  did  me  the  honor  to  remain  to  dinner  ;  and 
as  he  knew  that  an  altercation  had  taken  place  be- 
tween the  Prince  of  IS'assau  and  myself  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  18th  of  June,  he  had  the  goodness  to  em- 
ploy the  Prince  de  Ligne,  and  M.  Littlepage,  cham- 
berlain to  the  King  of  Poland,  to  persuade  the  Prince 
of  Nassau  to  make  me  an  apology.  I  accepted  it 
wnth  sincere  pleasure.  We  embraced  in  presence  of 
this  honorable  company,  and  I  believbd  him  as  sincere 
as  mvself. 

"  The  prince  marshal  charged  me  at  this  time  to 
make  arrangements  for  raising  the  cannon,  anchors, 
and  other  effects  belonging  to  the  enemy's  ships 
which  had  been  burnt.  Without  loss  of  time,  I  de- 
tailed a  transport  ship  with  officers  and  people  for 
this  service. 

"  His  highness  the  prince  marshal  advanced  his 
army,  which  crossed  the  Bog  and  appeared  in  sight 
of  us  on  the  borders  of  the  Liman,  on  the  27th  of 
June,  and  on  the  next  da^^  the  capitan-pacha 
w^eighed  anchor  with  his  grand  fleet,  which  had 
constantly  remained  twenty  or  thirty  versts  beyond 
Kinbourn,  and  directed  his  course  towards  the  en- 
trance of   the  Danube,    carrying  three    admiral's 


326  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

flags,  and  followed  by  all  the  vessels  that  had  es- 
caped us  in  the  Liinan.  During  the  whole  time  that 
we  were  exposed  to  having  a  serious  affair  with  the 
Turks,  Brigadier  Alexiano  had  carefully  kept  a 
Greek  felucca  of  eighteen  oars  alongside  the  Wolo- 
dimer.  This  felucca  was  better  built  for  sailing  than 
any  of  the  other  chaloupes  or  rowing  vessels  belonging 
to  the  whole  squadron,  so  that  he  had  at  all  times  the 
means  of  savinf;;:  himself  in  case  of  any  disastrous 
event.  Even  the  Prince  of  ]S"assau,  since  his  retreat 
on  the  6th  of  June,  was  never  seen  in  any  vessel  of 
the  flotilla,  but  always  in  a  chaloupe,  which  had 
been  built  for  the  especial  purpose  of  her  imperial 
majesty  on  her  late  voyage.  For  myself,  I  took  no 
such  precautions.  I  saw  that  I  must  conquer  or 
die.  For  me  there  was  no  retreat.  The  instant 
that  Alexiano  saw  the  troops  appear,  he  despatched 
his  felucca  to  inform  the  prince  marshal  that  it  was 
he,  in  his  zeal  for  the  service,  who  had  employed 
people  to  save  the  effects  of  the  burnt  prizes.  JS'oth- 
ing  could  be  less  true.  He  had  not  taken  tlie  small- 
est concern  in  the  matter.  But  this  shows  the  char- 
acter of  the  man.  l^ext  day  I  was  informed  that 
the  transport  ship  I  had  employed  on  this  service 
was  already  too  heavily  laden,  and  made  a  great 
deal  of  water.  As  the  wind  was  fair  for  Glauboca, 
I  gave  orders  that  she  should  immediately  go  thither 
to  unload.  Some  hours  after  the  departure  of  the 
transport,  Brigadier  Alexiano  returned  from  Kin- 
bourn,  where  he  had  dined,  and  said  several  imper- 
tinent things  to  me  on  the  subject  of  the  trans- 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  32? 

port.  lie  went  afterwards  to  headquarters  to  coin- 
j3lain  of  me  to  the  prince  marshal.  In  consequence 
of  this  complaint  I  received  a  letter  from  his  briga- 
dier du  jour,  the  Chevalier  Eibas,  which,  among 
other  things,  mentioned  that  the  prince  marshal  was 
'  singularly  severe  and  strict  in  all  that  related  to  the 
orders  he  gave.'  I  replied  that  I  was  not  afraid 
of  the  severity  of  the  prince  marshal,  as  I  had  done 
nothing  save  my  duty,  in  pursuance  of  his  own 
orders. 

"  E'ext  day  I  paid  a  visit  to  the  Prince  of  Kassau. 
I  supposed  I  should  be  received  with  open  arms  (a 
reconciliation   it   will    be    remembered   had   lately 
taken  place,  as  stated  in  the  beginning  of  this  part 
of  the  Journal),  but  he  blew  out  about  the  transport, 
belonging,  as  he  said,  to  his  flotilla.     I  had  told  him 
I  had  been  charged  with  that  necessary  business  by 
the  prince  marshal ;  and  that  as  all  the  vessels  of 
war  and  transports  belonged  to  her  imperial  majestv 
and  the  transport  in  question  was  empty  when  "^I 
ordered  it  to  be  taken,  I  could  not  see  that  he  had 
the  least  ground  of  complaint.     He  was  mad  with 
rage  ;  but  as  the  good  of  the  service  did  not  further 
require    our   combined    operations,   I   thought   his 
quarreling   too  puerile  to  concern  myself  about  it. 
I  took  leave  of  him,  begging  him  to  reflect,  that  I 
had  given  him  no  cause  of  displeasure.     I  did  not 
wish  to  come  to  a  rupture  with  him ;  but  on  the  1st 
of  July,  seeing  the  day  dawn,  and  that  the  flotilla 
was  still  far  too  distant  to  make   the  necessary  at- 
tack,  meeting  him  in  his  chaloupe,  I  asked,  '  If  he 


S28  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

did  not  think  it  time  to  begin  the  attack  V  '  Is  it 
of  me  you  thus  inquire?'  he  replied  ;  '  I  have  noth- 
ing to  say  to  you  on  the  subject.'  After  a  reply 
so  uncivil,  and  so  publicl}^  made,  it  was  impossible  I 
could  have  any  farther  intercourse  with  him. 

*'  On  the  18th  of  June,  in  giving  an  account  to  the 
prince  marshal  of  the  fate  of  the  nine  vessels  run 
iiground  in  coming  out  of  the  Liman,  upon  the  shal- 
lows, opposite  the  battery  and  block  fort  on  the 
tongue  of  land  of  Kinbourn,  I  took  the  liberty  to 
propose  to  him  to  get  the  AYolodimer,  which  had 
port-holes  for  seventy  pieces  of  cannon,  and  the  large 
frigate  Alexander,  which  might  have  carried  fifty 
pieces,  completely  armed,  that  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity the  squadron  of  Cherson  might  join  that  of 
Sevastopol ;  but  his  highness  gave  no  orders  for 
this  purpose  till  the  month  of  September,  and  the 
admiralty  was  so  slow  in  acting,  that  the  vessels  were 
not  equipped  by  the  18th  of  October,  when  I  was 
recalled  to  St.  Petersburg  by  an  order  from  her  im- 
perial majesty. 

*'  The  fleet  of  the  capitan-pacha,  having  sailed  on 
the28thof  June,  had  a  I'encontre  with  that  of  Sevas- 
topol, which  had  come  out  some  days  before ;  but 
the  Turkish  fleet  being  much  stronger  than  that  of 
Eussia,  the  latter  fled,  having  no  more  than  six  or 
s('ven  men  killed  and  wounded,  which  shovrs  that  the 
aliair  was  neither  close  nor  warm. 

"  After  the  affair  of  the  18th  of  June,  the  greater 
part  of  our  flotilla  remained  several  da3^s  at  anchor 
between  K.inbourn  and  the  block  fort  on  the  end  of 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  329 

the  tongue  of  land.  On  the  20th,  the  wind  being 
strong  from  the  west,  a  Turkish  brigantine,  equipped 
as  a  fire-ship,  put  off  towards  Kinbourn.  The  enemy 
set  lire  to  her  as  they  abandoned  her,  and  she  was 
consumed.  It  is  surprising  that  the  Russian  seamen 
and  pilots  could  be  so  profoundly  ignorant  respecting 
the  anchorage,  currents,  and  depth  of  the  Liman, 
and,  above  all,  at  the  entrance  into  the  canal,  and  in 
the  road  between  Oczakow  and  Beresane.  At  first 
not  a  single  commander  in  the  flotilla  durst  venture 
to  cast  an  anchor. 

"  Being  at  the  Kinbourn  on  the  28th  of  June. 
General  Suvorrof  spoke  to  me  of  the  unpleasant  cir- 
cumstance of  not  being  able  to  cut  off  the  communi- 
cation between  Oczakow  and  Beresane.  Havinof 
sounded  myself,  I  informed  him  that  this  was  quite  as 
practicable  as  it  was  necessary,  and  I  would  place  the 
frigates  there  instantly,if  he  would  onl}^  require  me  to 
do  so.  He  did  not  hesitate,  and  the  same  day  I  placed 
three  frigates  there.  M.  Alexiano  did  all  he  could 
to  prevent  this ;  and  when  he  saw  the  frigates  set 
off,  prophesied  that  I  need  not  expect  to  see  them 
return.  He  carried  his  intrigues  so  far  that  the 
prince  marshal  wrote  me  a  warning  letter  on  the 
29th,  and  on  the  1st  of  July  a  peremptory  order  to 
withdraw  them.  During  the  short  time  they  were 
there  they  took  two  Turkish  armed  chaloupes  and  a 
bateau  laden  with  powder  and  shot ;  and  cut  off 
the  enemy's  communication  between  Oczakow  and 
Beresane. 

"The  prince  marshal  had  not  been  satisfied  with 


330  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  conduct  of  the  flotilla  in  the  affair  of  attacking 
Oczakow  on  the  1st  of  July,  which  was  conducted 
in  a  very  irregular  manner,  and  at  too  great  a  dis- 
tance. The  most  advanced  charge  was  that  of  the 
battery  commanded  by  M.  Akmatoff,  who  was  never 
less  than  500  toises  distant  from  the  enemy.  On 
the  10th  of  July  the  prince  marshal  sent  the  prince 
of  Nassau  to  Sevastopol,  to  learn  if  the  squadron 
had  been  much  damaged  in  the  rencontre  with  the 
Turkish  fleet.  Immediately  after  the  departure  of 
the  Prince  of  iS'assau,  the  prince  marshal  gave  the 
Chevalier  E-ibas  the  command  of  the  flotilla,  with 
orders  to  go  to  Kinbourn,  to  receiv^e  on  board  the 
troops  he  destined  to  make  a  descent  on  the  Island 
of  Beresane.  At  the  same  time  he  ordered  me  to 
establish  a  line  of  blockade  between  that  island  and 
Oczakow.  I  stationed  five  frigates,  carrying  twelve- 
pounders,  in  the  road  for  that  purpose. 

"  On  the  l-ith  I  was  ordered  to  inspect  the 
entrance  of  the  Liman.  I  immediately  went  to 
Kinbourn  to  have  an  understanding  with  General 
Suvorrof  and  the  Brigadier  de  Eibas.  Though  the 
brigadier  had  been  incessantly  occupied  since  the 
departure  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau  in  bringing  the 
crews  of  the  flotilla  to  some  sort  of  order,  he  had 
not  yet  completed  this  task.  So  great  was  the  con- 
fusion that  reigned  that  he  could  not  find  in  any 
vessel  five  soldiers  belonging  to  the  same  company  ; 
and  the  ofiicers  knew  not  where  to  look  for  their 
men.  This  retarded  the  embarkation  of  the  troops 
destined  for  the  descent  till  the  16th.     The  prince 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  33I 

marshal  was  so  much  displeased  with  this  delay 
that  on  the  17th  he  gave  orders  to  land  the  troops, 
that  they  might  join  his  army  before  Oczakow,  and 
that  the  flotilla  should  return  into  the  Liman,  as 
well  as  the  five  frigates  I  had  posted  for  the  block- 
ade. 

"From  the  commencement  of  the  projected  ex- 
pedition against  Beresane,  M.  Eibas  had  requested 
me  to  conduct  the  flotilla  and  the  descent  of  the 
troops.  Though  a  man  of  much  talent,  he  had  not 
the  misplaced  conceit  of  some  persons  who  readily 
take  upon  them  things  far  beyond  their  capacity. 
I  told  him,  '  He  well  knew  I  ought  to  have  com- 
manded the  flotilla,  as  well  as  the  squadron,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  campaign,  but  that  my  grati- 
tude for  the  gracious  reception  accorded  me  by  her 
imperial  majesty,  together  with  the  very  delicate 
state  in  which  I  had  found  affairs,  had  induced  me 
to  sacrifice  m}^  feelings,  and  even  greatly  to  hazard 
my  reputation  for  the  good  of  the  empire  ;  that  I 
could  never  so  far  humble  myself  as  to  request  the 
direction  of  the  flotilla,  but  if  the  prince  marshal 
thought  proper  to  propose  it  to  me,  I  would  do  m}^ 
best  to  make  the  most  of  it  possible.' 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  ITth  the  prince  marshal 
proposed  to  give  me  the  command  of  the  flotilla. 
His  highness  informed  me  his  intention  was  to  have 
Oczakow  attacked  a  second  time.  I  replied  that  I 
was  disposed  to  execute  with  zeal  whatever  he 
might  think  proper  for  the  good  of  the  service ;  but 
that  to  attack  witli  advantage  it  was  necessary  to 


332  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

come  to  close  quarters,  and  to  advance  in  better 
order  than  on  the  1st  of  July.  He  was  of  the  same 
opinion,  and  requested  me  to  come  ashore  next  day 
that  we  might  concert  together  the  plan  of  attack. 

"  I  did  not  fail  to  comply  with  the  orders  of  the 
prince  marshal,  but  his  highness  spoke  no  more  of 
the  flotilla.  I  remained  to  dinner  and  supper,  and 
afterwards  returned  on  board  of  my  ship.  The 
Prince  of  ]S"assau,  having  returned  some  days  before 
from  Sevastopol,  had  intrigued  with  the  Prince  de 
Ligne ;  and  the  prince  marshal  had  restored  him  to 
the  command  of  the  flotilla. 

"  On  the  18th  of  June  I  had  been  ordered  to 
despatch  the  five  frigates  which  had  returned  into 
Liman,  to  be  refitted  at  Glauboca,  en  hatte^^w  for 
sea  service.  I  sent  them  off  at  daybreak  on  the 
19th,  having  taken  the  greater  part  of  their  crews 
for  service  in  the  gun-boats  and  bomb-vessels  which 
the  prince  marshal  proposed  to  place  under  my  com- 
mand. On  the  20th  I  received  twenty-one  gun- 
boats, each  carrying  a  single  piece,  from  eighteen 
to  thirty-two-pounders ;  and  five  bomb-vessels,  eacii 
carrying  a  mortar,  of  whicli  four  were  of  three  poods, 
and  one  of  five  poods.  The  same  day  the  prince 
marshal,  having  established  his  headquarters  to  the 
right  of  his  army  upon  the  shores  of  the  Black  Sea 
(he  had  hitherto  been  on  the  shores  of  the  Liman, 
on  the  left  wnng),  pointed  out  to  me  two  of  the 
enemj^'s  gun-boats  stationed  close  by  the  fort  of 
Hassan  Pacha,  and  the  Turkish  lines  on  the  side  of 
Beresane.    He  was  persuaded  that  they  would  at- 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  333 

tempt  to  come  out  during  the  night  with  despatches, 
and  inquired  of  me  if  it  were  not  possible  to  capture 
them.  As  his  highness  appeai'ed  to  attach  great 
importance  to  this  service,  I  undertook  it. 

"  1  returned  on  board  the  "Wolodiraer,  from 
whence,  at  eight  in  the  evening,  I  set  off  with  five 
armed  chaloupes.  I  made  five  gun-boats  follow,  as 
a  measure  of  precaution  in  case  the  Turks  had  at- 
tempted to  make  a  sortie,  as  their  chaloupes  sailed 
much  faster  than  ours.  I  found  one  of  the  Turkish 
gun-boats  aground,  hauled  up,  and  almost  dry  on 
the  sands  adjoining  the  battery,  and  on  an  intrench- 
ment  the  enemy  had  cast  up  on  the  water's  edge. 
It  was  impossible  to  get  it  afloat  under  the  terrible 
fire  which  we  sustained  from  all  the  lines  and  bat- 
teries on  the  shore.  The  other  gun-boat  lay  just 
afloat,  right  against  the  fort  of  Hassan  Pacha,  to 
the  south.  Lieutenant  Edwards  boarded  this  vessel 
and  cut  her  cables  ;  but  having  had  several  of  his 
men  wounded,  and  being  deserted  by  one  of  the 
chaloupes,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  attempt 
lest  he  should  be  left  by  the  other  chaloupes  also. 
During  this  time  I  had  made  some  efforts  to  get  tho 
other  Turkish  boat  afloat.  I  now  rowed  quickly  to 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  Edwards,  but  the  night  was 
dark  and  he  was  already  out  of  sight  when  I  boarded 
the  vessel  in  which  he  had  been.  I  had  several  men 
wounded  around  me  ;  but  in  defiance  of  the  enemj'' 
I  hauled  the  vessel  out,  and  stationed  it  right  op- 
posite the  headquarters  of  the  prince  marshal. 

"On  the  21st,  at  daybreak,   I  sailed  with   the 


334  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

Wolodimer,    followed    bj    all    the   vessels   of  the 
squadron  that  yet  remained  with  me,  and  twenty- 
live  gun-boats  and  bomb-vessels  that  had  been  placed 
under  my  command.     The  object  of  this  movement 
was  aaain  to  blockade  Oczakow  bv  sea,  and  to  cut 
off   the    communication   between   that    place    and 
Beresane.     To  accomplish    this   object  I  stationed 
the    AYolodimer    and    the  Alexander    to   blockade 
the  channel  at  the  entrance  of  the  Liman,  and  I  con- 
tinued the  same  line  of  blockade  into  the  road,  by 
placing  the  smaller  vessels   there.     As  the   bomb- 
vessels  and  gun-boats  had  no  water  casks,  the  prince 
marshal,  who  wished  to  see  these  craft  opposite  his 
headquarters,  made  wells  be  dug  on  shore  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  crews  ;  and  on  the  24:th  or- 
dered my  of^cer  du  jour  to  have  the  vessels  stationed 
near  the  shore.     I  knew  nothing  of  this  change,  for 
I  had  placed  them  the  previous  night  in  line,  and  far 
enough  off  to  be  in  safety.     On  the  25th  the  wind 
was  from  the  south,  but  blew  moderateh\     After 
dinner  I  went  to  headquarters  to  make  a  visit  to  the 
prince  marshal,  and  found,  to  my  great  astonish- 
ment, that  half  the  boats  were  cast  ashore,  and  the 
other  half  in  the  greatest  danger.     I  set  to  work 
instantly,  with  my  chaloupe,  to  haul  off  and  bring 
to  anchor  all  the  vessels  possible  ;  and  by  means  of 
anchors  and  cables,  for  Avhich  I  sent  to  the  squadron, 
we  saved  them  all,  except  six  gun-boats  which  went 
to  pieces  and  filled  with  sand.     On   the  26th  the 
prince  marshal  wrote  me,  by  his  brigadier  dtt  joui\ 
to  inform  me  that  I  was  at  liberty  to  place  the  boats 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  335 

I  bad  saved  where  I  pleased.  I  placed  them  near  the 
tongue  of  land  of  Kinbourn,  where  they  had  a 
sheltered  haven  and  also  wells  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  men.  Thej  sustained  no  farther  injury 
during  the  time  thej^  remained  under  my  command. 
At  this  time  two  chaloupes  or  small  cutters  were 
placed  under  my  orders,  of  which  each  carried  two 
licornes  of  forty-eight  pounds'  caliber  in  the  fore 
part,  and  six  falconets  on  the  sides.  Shortly  after- 
guards I  got  two  larger  cutters,  carrying  each  two 
mortars  of  live  poods. 

"  On  the  31st  of  July  the  capitan-pacha  again 
made  his  appearance  with  his  fleet,  followed  by 
several  vessels  which  he  had  not  when  he  went  off. 
His  advanced  guard,  composed  of  his  frigates,  bomb- 
vessels,  and  small  craft,  cast  anchor  near  Beresane, 
whilst  his  large  squadron  of  ships  of  the  line  re- 
sumed their  old  position.  The  prince  marshal 
ordered  me  to  bring  back  my  small  vessels  to  assist 
in  blocking  up  the  passage  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Liman  ;  and  the  Prince  of  IS'assau  was  ordered  to 
block  up  the  road  with  his  flotilla,  and  thus  cut  off 
the  communication  of  the  Turkish  small  vessels  by 
the  shallows  to  the  south  of  Fort  Hassan  Pacha. 

"  The  Prince  of  Xassau  hoisted  a  Avhite  flag  with 
a  blue  cross  on  one  of  the  galleys,  on  leaving  the 
Liman  ;  and  that  galley  having  passed  under  the 
stern  of  the  Wolodimer  on  the  1st  of  August,  he 
pretended  that  I  ought  to  salute  him  as  vice- 
admiral.  1st,  "When  I  hoisted  my  flag,  to  avoid  the 
idly  vanity  of  exacting  a  salute,  I  did  it  at  night  j 


336  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

and  the  Prince  of  IN'assau,  being  only  a  simple 
volunteer,  did  not  offer  to  salute  it.  2d,  An  officer 
without  my  orders,  coming  from  Cherson,  had 
saluted  the  prince  without  my  authority,  but  they 
did  not  give  him  a  single  gun  in  return.  3d,  The 
prince  had  not  received  the  grade  of  vice-admiral  in 
the  service  of  her  imperial  majesty.  4th,  I  had  no 
orders  from  the  prince  marshal  to  salute  tlie  Prince 
of  Nassau.  5th,  The  latter  had  applied,  in  the  last 
w^ar  between  France  and  England,  to  serve  with  me, 
and,  assuredly,  not  as  my  commander  ;  for,  though 
he  has  made  a  voyage  round  the  '^orld,  he  does  not 
yet  understand  the  compass.  6th,  On  saluting  an 
officer  of  a  superior  grade,  it  is  necessary  to  go  on 
board  his  flag-ship  to  make  a  report  and  receive 
orders  ;  and  I  had  in  no  wise  deserved  so  grave  a 
punishment  as  to  be  put  under  the  orders  of  the 
Prince  of  Nassau.  Had  the  prince  marshal  been 
dissatisfied  with  mv  conduct  on  this  occasion,  he 
would  have  mentioned  it  to  me,  or  issued  an  order. 
The  Prince  of  Nassau,  however,  has  endeavored  to 
make  it  appear,  at  court  especially,  that  his  differ- 
ence with  me  had  no  other  foundation  than  in  my 
not  choosing  to  salute  his  flag.  He  lowered  it  two 
or  three  days  afterwards.  How  should  he  have 
done  so,  if  he  had  been  vice-admiral  ? 

"  The  capitan-pacha  came  out  from  day  to  day 
to  sound  and  reconnoiter,  in  his  kirlangitch,  which 
sailed  like  the  wind,  and  always  displayed  an 
admiral's  flag.  As  the  block  fort  and  battery  on 
the  tongue  of  land  at   Kin  bourn    were  only  con- 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  337 

structed  of  bags  of  sand,  and  were  neither  protected 
b}^  ditch  or  palisade,  I  was  afraid  that  the  capitan- 
pacha  might  try  to  carry  thera  by  a  sudden  descent, 
which  he  could  have  done  by  landing  five  hundred 
men. 

"  General  Suvorrof  had  been  dano:erouslv  wounded 
in  a  sortie  made  by  the  garrison  of  Oczakow,  and 
had  come  to  Kinbourn.  I  convinced  hira  that  the 
block  fort  and  battery  seemed  to  be  menaced,  and, 
as  he  had  a  greater  quantity  of  chevaux  de  frise  al 
Kinbourn  than  he  required,  I  suggested  that  he 
should  employ  what  was  superfluous  in  surrounding 
the  block  fort  and  battery.  The  general  gave  orders 
accordingly,  and  I  ranged  all  my  gun-boats  and 
bomb-vessels  hard  by  the  strip  of  sand  between  the 
block  fort  and  the  battery.  The  small  craft  were, 
besides,  always  ready  to  change  their  position  at 
the  first  movement  of  the  enemy,  and  I  placed  the 
squadron  so  advantageously  to  communicate  with 
the  block  fort  and  the  battery,  without  confining 
their  fire,  and  to  keep  back  the  enemy  by  a  cross- 
fire, on  their  entering  the  channel  of  the  Liman, 
that,  though  we  were  very  weak  compared  with 
the  Turkish  fleet,  the  capitan-pacha  never  either 
attempted  to  make  a  descent,  or  to  force  the  passage 
of  the  entrance  of  the  Liman. 

"  The  prince  marshal  having  ordered  Rear-Admiral 
Woynowitch  to  sail  from  Sevastopol  with  the  fleet 
under  his  command,  and  that  officer  having  raised 
obstacles  because  his  force  was  not,  he  conceived, 
powerful  enough  to  attack  that  under  the  command 


338  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

of  the  capitan-pacha,  his  highness  sent  me  a  letter, 
Avritten  by  his  chief  secretary,  Brigadier  Popoff,  on 
the  19th  of  August  (old  style),  proposing  that  I 
should  go  to  Sevastopol  to  take  command  of  the 
fleet.  It  ma}^  be  remembered  that  I  was  brought 
to  Eussia  to  command  all  the  naval  force  in  the 
Black  Sea,  consequentl}^  this  proposition  did  not 
surprise  me.  Had  the  prince  marshal  ordered  me  to 
go,  I  would  have  proceeded  immediately,  but  I  would 
not  have  it  appear  that  I  sought  to  be  sent.  1st, 
My  naval  signals  had  not  yet  been  translated  into 
the  Russian  language,  as  no  attention  had  been 
given  to  my  request  for  a  person  capable  of  trans- 
lating them.  2dly,  The  naval  signals  used  in  that 
fleet  were  imperfect  and  very  limited.  3dly,  I  was 
acquainted  with  no  one  in  the  fleet,  and  I  was  aware 
that  the  prince  marshal  wished  that  it  should  come 
out  the  ver}^  day  after  my  arrival  at  Sevastopol. 
4thly,  That  fleet  had  been  compelled  to  fly  before 
that  of  the  capitan-pacha,  at  a  time  when  he  had 
two  thousand  fewer  good  seamen.  5thly,  The  fleet 
at  Sevastopol  was  as  weak  as  before,  but  that  of 
the  capitan-pacha  was  stronger  in  craft,  and  had  all 
the  men  replaced  that  had  been  lost  in  the  affair  of 
the  Liman.  6thly,  I  had  just  received  preparatory 
orders  from  the  prince  marshal  to  attack  Fort  Has- 
san Pacha  ;  and  I  hoped  to  show  him  the  difference 
between  my  fashion  of  attack  and  that  of  the  1st  of 
July.  I  replied,  in  answer  to  his  letter,  that  being 
entirel}^  devoted  to  the  good  of  the  state,  his  high- 
ness would  find  me  eager  to  fulfil  his  orders.    It 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  339 

was  said  that  some  days  afterguards  the  prince  mar- 
shal sent  positive  orders  to  Admiral  Woynowitch 
to  come  out,  but  that  he  always  found  reasons  for 
not  dealing  farther  with  the  capitan-pacha. 

"On  the  30th  of  August  the  Turks  took  a  small 
lodka,  freighted  with  watermelons,  belonging  to 
the  merchants  of  Kin  bourn.  In  coming  down  the 
Liman  the  people  on  board  liad  been  foolish  enou.o-h 
to  pass  too  close  to  Oczakow.  To  '  punish  the 
Turks '  for  this,  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  at  evening, 
made  his  flotilla  advance  to  assault  Oczakow.  ''l 
sent  my  secretary  to  headquarters,  and  in  the  mean- 
while assembled  the  commanders  of  divisions  of  mv 
gun-boats  and  bomb-vessels,  and  ordered  them  to 
bring  forward  their  divisions  and  form  in  line  of 
battle  between  the  squadron  and  Oczakow,  ready 
to  attack  the  fort  of  Hassan  Pacha  the  moment 
orders  should  arrive. 

"  Upon  the  return  of  the  capitan-pacha,  M.  Little- 
page,  chamberlain  to  the  King  of  Poland,  being 
then  with  the  prince  marshal,  had  solicited  and  ob- 
tained  leave  to  command  a  division  of  my  gun-boats. 
]S'ight  being  come  on,  the  chiefs  of  division,  wishing 
to  bring  forward  their  boats,  found  that  thirteen  0I 
them  had  already  quitted  their  posts,  against  the 
most  positive  orders  to  make  no  movement  without 
their  commanders  of  division.  This  movement  had 
been  occasioned  by  the  rashness  of  a  Greek  lieu- 
tenant belonging  to  the  division  of  IL  Littlepage. 
The  boat  of  this  lieutenant  had  fired  eight  shots 
against  the  place,  and  another  six,  but  none  of  the 


340  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

rest  had  fired.  As  this  lieutenant  was  the  most  to 
blame,  I  deprived  him  of  his  command  and  sent  him 
to  headquarters,  which  was  required  by  the  prince 
marshal. 

"  The  Prince  of  Xassau,  who  had  very  idly  wanted 
a  great  deal  of  ammunition,  pretended  that  my  boats 
had  prevented  him  from  taking  the  whole  Turkish 
flotilla!  The  Greek  lieutenant  whom  I  had  dis- 
graced, instead  of  being  punished,  was  promoted  to 
the  command  of  a  double  chaloupe,  mounting  two 
aubusiers  that  would  throw  ninety-six  pounds'  weight 
of  balls.  M.  Littlepage  gave  a  particular  account  of 
the  whole  affair  in  a  letter  to  the  grand  general  of 
Poland. 

"  A  few  days  after  this  the  prince  marshal  sent 
Kear-Admiral  Mordwinoff  on  board  the  Wolodimer 
to  assemble  all  the  captains  and  master  pilots  of  the 
squadron,  to  hold  a  council  on  the  means  of  effect- 
ing a  junction  between  the  squadron  of  Cherson  and 
the  fleet  of  Sevastopol.  It  was  said  that  the  prince 
marshal  had  earnestly  entreated  this  officer  to  take 
the  affair  upon  himself,  and  that  he  had  positively 
declined  it.  I  can  say  nothing  on  this  head  ;  I  only 
know  that  it  was  a  delicate  step  in  relation  to  me, 
to  send  another  officer  on  board  my  ship  to  hold  a 
council ;  and,  above  all,  without  having  apprised  me 
either  by  speech  or  writing.  If  I  had  been  stickling, 
I  would  have  put  this  officer  under  arrest,  as  he 
could  show  no  authority  nor  precedent  for  holding 
a  council  where  I  commanded.  But  as  I  was  in- 
fluenced by  the  good  of  the  service    above  every 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  34I 

personal  consideration,  I  received  Adraipal  Mord- 
winoff  most  amicably,  and  after  dinner  assembled 
the  officers  in  question  for  consultation.  Many  diffi- 
culties presented  themselves  to  their  minds  against 
the  proposed  junction,  and  as  it  was  known  that 
the  prince  marshal  was  determined  on  the  measure 
it  was  ao-reed  that  it  could  not  be  effected  but  at 
Ilagdgebay,  upon  the  coast,  between  Beresane  and 
the  Danube,  at  the  distance  of  fifty  versts  from 
the  point  of  Kinbourn.  I  raised  no  obstacle.  I 
only  observed  that,  since  it  was  pressingly  neces- 
sary to  beat  the  advanced  guard  of  the  enemy  be- 
fore we  could  effect  the  proposed  junction,  it  was 
indispensable  to  station  the  squadron  previously  in 
the  road  of  Oczakow,  and  to  sail  from  thence  with 
the  wind  from  N.  to  K.  ^N".  W.  to  avoid  being  attacked 
on  the  wa}^  by  the  grand  fleet  of  the  Turks,  and  to 
keep  it  to  the  leeward  till  the  junction  was  effected. 
It  was  only  a  few  days  previously  that  preparations 
had  been  begun  to  complete  the  armament  of  the 
Wolodimer  and  Alexander. 

"  During  this  time  her  imperial  majesty  had  sent 
twenty-four  swords  of  massive  gold  to  headquarters, 
to  be  distributed  among  the  officers  on  account  of 
the  battle  of  the  Liman.  The  prince  marshal  him- 
self received  a  gold  sword  enriched  with  diamonds 
and  emeralds  ;  and  the  Prince  of  ISTassau  received 
one  ornamented  with  a  row  of  diamonds.  There 
were  a  number  of  silver  medals  at  the  same  time  sent 
to  be  distributed  among  the  soldiers  and  seamen. 
The  swords  had  not  yet  been  distributed,  but  the 


342  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

medals  were  all  given  to  the  men  of  the  flotilla,  and 
not  a  solitary  one  to  the  squadron.  It  is  usual  to 
give  subalterns  the  more  merit  the  more  they  are 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  whilst  the  people 
of  the  flotilla  Avere  screened  by  parapets  made  of 
bags  of  wool,  by  which  the  vessels  were  surrounded. 

"  On  the  18th  of  September  I  received  a  secret 
order  from  the  prince  marshal  to  attack  the  ad- 
vanced guard  of  the  enemy  anchored  under  Bere- 
sane.  His  highness  proposed  to  make  the  attack 
with  the  five  frigates  which  had  been  sent  to 
Glauboca  to  be  mounted  as  batteries  ;  and  these 
frigates  were  to  be  supported  by  the  other  vessels  of 
the  squadron,  excepting  the  Wolodimer  and  the  Al- 
exander, the  arming  of  which  went  on  very  slowly 
on  account  of  difficulties  on  the  part  of  the  admiralty. 

Two  of  the  frigates,  the  Scoroi  and  the  Boris- 
thenes,  had  already  joined  the  squadron.  Before 
the  equipments  of  these  frigates  were  altered,  they 
carried  more  guns  than  are  ever  put,  either  by  the 
French  or  English,  into  ships  of  the  same  kind.  The 
Scoroi,  for  example,  carried  forty  guns,  and  in  Eng- 
land they  would  not  have  put  more  than  thirty-two 
into  her.  She  now  carried  sixteen  thirty-six-pound- 
ers, and  four  licornes,  eighteen-pounders. 

"  They  called  her  a  '  sea  battery.'  The  amount  of 
her  caliber  now,  compared  with  what  it  was  before, 
had  the  advantage  of  648  pounds  over  452  ;  but  to 
gain  this  they  had  been  obliged  to  open  her  port- 
holes en  echiqider,  because  there  was  not  room 
enough  for  recoil,  to  place  the  guns  on  each  side  op 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  343 

posite ;  and  for  the  same  reason  they  were  obliged 
after  all  to  shift  the  guns  from  their  places,  and 
make  a  sort  of  platform  for  the  purpose  on  the  side 
of  the  sbip.     And  so  with  the  others.     When  it  was 
resolved  to  mount  thirty-sixes  on  the  five  frigates,  it 
must  be  supposed  that  the  fact  had  not  been  adverted 
to  that  they  had  no   bullets  of  that  size,  and  that 
they   would   be  obliged  to   use   twenty-four-pound 
shot.     To  remedy  this,  recourse  was  had  to  a  means 
entirely  novel.     The  twenty-four-pound  bullets  were 
dipped  in  pitch  to  make  them  fill  up  the  bore  of  the 
thirty-sixes.     The  use  of  these  pitched  bullets  seems 
dangerous  for  those  who  work  the  guns ;  for  if  the 
smallest   particle   of   the   combustible  material  re- 
mains in  the  piece  it  must  set  fire  to  the  next  cart- 
ridge ;  and  a  single  such  accident  would  damp  the 
courage   of   the  most  resolute  men.     But,  putting 
aside  all  these  and  many  other  inconveniences,  the 
only  advantage  gained  by  using  the  twenty -four- 
pound  bullets  for  the  thirty-six-pound  guns  on  board 
the  Scoroi  would  be  reduced  to  the  difference  be- 
tween 456,  the  actual  caliber,  and  452,  the  former. 
By  experience  it  has  been  ascertained  in  the  French 
marine  that  two  shots  can  be  fired  from  an  eighteen- 
pounder  for  one  from  a  thirty-six,  if  both  pieces  are 
worked  with  equal  convenience.     By  this  account 
it  may  be  judged  whether  the  change  in  the  arma- 
ment of  these  frigates  was  a  good  or  bad  operation. 
Without  presuming  to  decide  the  q^^estion  I  will  only 
say  that,  in  my  opinion,  eighteen-pounders  are  the 
largest  and  best  for  frigates.     I  think  that  guns  of 


344  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

a  larger  caliber  are  worked  too  slowly  for  vessels 
which  have  but  one  batter}^,  and  cannot  keep  up 
that  rolling  fire  so  necessary  in  attacking  Turks. 

"  The  five  frigates,  of  which  I  have  perhaps  spoken 
too  much,  appeared  to  me  very  fit  to  place  behind  a 
stoccado,  or  bar.  But  I  never  would  make  choice 
of  ships  of  this  kind  for  the  sea  service.  The  first 
broadside  is  all  that  is  to  be  feared  from  them. 

"  I  replied  in  writing  to  the  proposition  of  the 
prince  marshal  for  attacking  the  advanced  guard  of 
the  Turks  near  Beresane,  and  afterward  had  a  plan  of 
attack  drawn  out  for  his  inspection.  He  was  much 
pleased  with  it.  As  it  was  necessary  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  a  northerly  wind  to  effect  the  enterprise, 
I  proposed  to  the  prince  marshal  to  place  the  frigates 
in  the  road  as  soon  as  they  arrived  from  Glauboca, 
to  preserve,  while  w^aiting  the  attack  of  the  line,  a 
permanent  blockade  betw^een  Oczakow  and  the 
enemy  outside.  His  highness  said  it  was  not  yet 
time  for  this,  and  ordered  me  to  place  them  in  a  line 
with  the  other  vessels  of  my  squadron,  so  as  to  make 
a  display  in  the  channel  of  the  Liman. 

"  In  the  end  of  the  month  the  Turkish  fleet  set 
sail  in  the  night,  followed  by  all  the  vessels  that  had 
lain  under  Beresane ;  and  we  saw  it  at  a  great  dis- 
tance the  next  morning.  The  capitan-pacha  re- 
turned in  about  thirty-six  hours  and  resumed  the 
position  he  had  left.  The  only  difference  was  that 
he  brought  in  some  additional  small  vessels,  and 
that  he  considerably  reinforced  his  advanced  guard 
under  Beresane.     As  our  flotilla,  which  ought  to 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  345 

have  blockaded  the  road  and  cut  off  the  communica- 
tion with  the  small  vessels  on  that  side,  were  only 
there  occasionally,  as  if  by  caprice,  it  was  quite 
natural  for  the  Turks  to  profit  by  its  absence,  and 
go  out  and  in  when  they  found  the  way  clear. 

"  The  flotilla  being  to  leeward,  between  m}'  squad- 
ron and  Kinbourn,  on  the  8th  of  October,  the  cap- 
itan-pacha  sent  off  in  the  evening  three  vessels  of 
his  advanced  guard,  which  entered  Oczakow  unmo- 
lested by  an  open  passage.  Our  flotilla  made  no 
movement.  I  made  an  attempt  to  intercept  the 
enemy's  progress  with  my  gunboats,  which  I 
caused  to  be  hauled  to  windward  by  the  ships'  boats 
of  the  squadron.  But  the  wind  being  high  they 
could  not  bring  them  to  attack.  Our  batteries 
nearest  to  Oczakow  fired  on  three  Turkish  vessels, 
but  without  being  able  to  arrest  their  progress.  It 
was  now  dark ;  and,  moreover,  the  distance  between 
these  batteries  and  the  block  fort  on  the  side  of 
Kinbourn  being  seven  versts,  the  land  batteries 
never  could  have  prevented  either  the  entrance  or 
exit  of  small  vessels.  To  command  the  entrance 
of  the  Liman,  I  think  it  is  requisite  to  estab- 
lish a  fort  with  two  batteries,  one  over  the  other  on 
the  shallows  which  run  out  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  point  of  sand  off  Kinbourn,  towards 
Beresane,  and  w^hich  would  command  even  the  en- 
trance  of  the  road  of  Oczakow. 

*'  One  of  the  Turkish  ships  had  the  folly  to  cast 
anchor  in  the  shallows  of  Fort  Hassan  Pacha ;  and 
at  daybreak  on  the  9th,  being  within  shot  of  our 


346  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

most  advanced  land  battery,  was  struck  between 
wind  and  water,  and  sunk;  the  other  two  vessels 
o:ot  in  without  difficulty. 

"I  have  already  mentioned  that,  on  the  18th  of 
August,  I  received  a  preparatory  order  for  attack- 
ing the  fortress  of  Hassan  Pacha  with  my  bomb- 
vessels  and  the  chaloupes  armed  with  licornes  and 
mortars.  I  expected  from  day  to  day  an  order  for 
action,  and  had  in  consequence  bestowed  much 
pains  in  training  my  men  to  the  necessary  evolutions ; 
but  the  final  orders  never  arrived. 

"  The  Prince  of  Xassau  havino:  caballed  af]:ainst 
my  plan  of  attack,  it  was  set  aside  ;  and  by  a  new 
arrangement,  which  1  was  commanded  to  form 
with  General  MuUer,  commander-in-chief  of  artil- 
lery, I  was  destined  to  assault  the  iiitrenchment, 
and  the  Turkish  batteries  on  the  shore  of  the  road. 

"  On  the  9th  of  October  the  flotilla  advanced 
from  the  shores  of  Kinbourn,  and  attacked 
Oczakow  ;  but  this  attack  was  conducted  and  ended 
in  the  very  same  manner  as  that  of  the  30th  of 
August,  save  that  a  small  vessel  of  the  Turkish 
flotilla  was  stranded,  which  lay  farther  out  than 
any  of  the  others  on  the  shallows  this  side  of  Fort 
Hassan  Pacha. 

"On  the  10th  of  October  I  received  another  pre- 
paratory order ;  and  soon  afterwards  was  ordered 
to  give  up  all  the  boats  to  the  flotilla.  Towards 
evening  I  went  to  headquarters  to  take  particular 
orders  in  relation  to  these  boats.  The  prince  mar- 
shal told  me  he  had  the  strongest  desire  to  pitch 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  347 

overboard  a  large  piece  of  artillery  placed  on  the 
fore-part  of  the  vessel  of  the  Turkish  flotilla  that 
stood  farthest  out,  and  which  had  run  aground.  I 
imagined  at  the  time  that  there  was  no  other  vessel 
run  aground  save  the  one  in  the  road,  which  was  at 
the  distance  of  a  verst  from  the  fortress  of  Hassan 
Pacha :  so  I  said  the  thing  was  quite  easy ;  for  al- 
though the  Turks  should  come  up  in  force  to  de- 
fend the  vessel,  there  would  alwaj^s  be  time  to 
spike  the  piece  of  cannon.  It  was  night  when  I 
undertook  this  little  enterprise.  I  did  not  imagine 
the  prince  marshal  attached  so  much  importance  to 
it  as  to  wish  that  I  should  conduct  it  in  person.  I 
confided  it  to  Lieutenant  Edwards,  a  brave  and  an 
intelligent  man,  whom  I  wished  to  reward  for  past 
services.  1st,  On  the  1st  of  July,  he  had  followed 
me  throughout,  and  was  a  long  time  with  me  in  the 
galley  of  the  capitan-pacha.  2dh^,  He  had  fol- 
lowed me  on  the  night  of  the  20th  of  July,  and  had 
boarded  and  cut  the  cable  of  the  vessel  which  I 
took  opposite  the  fortress  of  Hassan  Pacha.  3dly, 
He  had  assisted  me  some  days  afterwards,  when,  by 
orders  of  the  prince  marshal,  we  made  trial  of  bom- 
barding the  fort  from  one  of  the  bomb-vessels ; 
from  which  service  we  had  some  difficultv  in  with- 
drawing,  as  the  wind,  rising  at  the  moment,  kept  us 
for  a  long  while  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  mus- 
ketry, which  wounded  some  of  our  men. 

"  Mr.  Edwards  returned  before  daybreak  with- 
out having  succeeded.  He  said  there  were  a  great 
many  men  in  the  ship,  who  fired  on  him,  and  that 


J48  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

he  durst  not  board  her,  he  was  so  ill  supported.  I 
was  so  vexed  that  he  had  failed  that,  in  my  report 
to  the  prince  marshal,  I  said  that  I  would  conduct 
the  enterprise  myself  next  night  if  that  would 
satisf}''  him.  The  prince  marshal  held  me  at  my 
word  ;  but  it  was  eleven  at  night  when  Mr.  Ed- 
wards returned  with  the  order.  The  wind,  which 
was  high,  was  quite  against  me,  as  well  as  a  strong 
tide  ;  and  I  would  have  deferred  the  attempt  if  I 
had  not  conceived  my  honor  pledged.  I  was  led  to 
hope  that  after  midnight  the  wind  might  fall,  and 
the  strength  of  the  tide  lessen,  if  it  did  not  change. 
The  night  was  very  dark,  and  the  rain  fell  in  tor- 
rents. I  waited  till  two  o'clock,  when  the  moon 
rose.  I  had  with  me  ^ve  armed  canoes,  and  I  cal- 
culated on  being  followed  by  four  bateaux  (Za- 
poravians)  and  by  one  of  the  armed  vessels  I  had 
taken  from  the  Turks  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  tow 
them  against  wind  and  tide,  and  I  was  compelled 
to  go  on  as  best  I  could,  with  only  my  five  canoes. 
I  have  noticed  that  our  flotilla  had  run  aground  a 
small  Turkish  vessel  in  the  shallow  of  the  fortress 
of  Hassan  Pacha,  but  I  did  not  perceive  this  till 
the  11th,  after  I  had  despatched  Mr.  Edwards  to 
headquarters,  because  the  vessel  lay  so  near  the 
fortress,  where  the  water  is  of  little  depth,  that  it 
had  only  sunk  a  foot  or  fifteen  inches,  and  con- 
sequently appeared  as  if  still  afloat.  As  the  prince 
marshal  had  only  spoken  to  me  of  the  farthest  out 
of  the  Turkish  flotilla,  I  began  to  think  he  meant  to 
designate  the  one  nearest  the  fortress,   in   which 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  349 

idea  I  was  confirmed  by  Mr.  Edwards,  at  his  re- 
turn from  headquarters,  telling  me  he  had  heard 
ashore  that  the  vessel  run  down  in  the  road  had 
been  visited,  but  that  nothing  had  been  found  there. 
I  rowed  for  the  vessel  nearest  the  fortress,  which 
carried,  like  most  of  the  others  alongside,  a  large 
cannon  in  her  bow ;  but  after  having  fatigued  my 
rowers,  I  was  vexed  to  see  daylight  appear,  whilst 
I  had  still  more  than  a  verst  to  go  before  I  could 
reach  the  vessel.  I  returned  on  board  my  own 
ship  to  prevent  a  useless  alarm,  being  persuaded  I 
should  succeed  next  night.  "Without  waiting  to  re- 
ceive my  report,  the  prince  marshal  sent  me  orders 

*  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  for  he  had  intrusted  it 
to  other  ships.'  There  was  fine  weather  on  the 
night   between   the   12th   and    the   13th,   but   the 

*  other  ships '  did  nothing ;  and  the  Turks  availed 
themselves  of  an  open  way  to  bring  out  all  their 
flotilla,  which  rejoined  the  ships  of  the  advanced 
guard  under  Beresane. 

"  Some  days  afterwards  a  colonel  of  Cossacks 
boarded  the  vessel  run  down  in  the  road,  and  set  fire 
to  it,  by  leaving  in  it  lighted  brandcougles,  for  which 
he  received  public  thanks. 

"  On  the  13th  the  prince  marshal  wished  to  estab- 
lish a  permanent  line  of  blockade  in  the  road  by 
placing  my  frigates  there,  and  some  other  small 
vessels.  He  wrote  me  a  letter  on  this  subject  on 
that  day,  which  contained  things  that  strongly 
affected  me,  and  to  which  I  replied  next  day  with 
perhaps  too  much  freedom  and  warmth.     This  occa- 


350  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

sioned  an  interchano^e  of  letters  between  his  hiD-h- 
ness  and  myself,  which  was  only  terminated  on  the 
18th  by  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Mordwinoff  to  take 
command  of  the  squadron  and  the  flotilla ;  for  the 
Prince  of  Nassau  had  set  off  for  AYarsaw  some  days 
after  his  affair  of  the  9th,  with  which  the  prince 
marshal  had  been  mux3h  dissatisfied.  I  at  the  same 
time  received  orders  from  her  imperial  majesty  to 
go  to  St.  Petersburg  to  be  employed  in  the  Xorth 
Sea.  Sweden  had  declared  war  against  Russia  at 
the  commencement  of  the  campaign,  and  Admiral 
Greig,  who  had  commanded  the  Russian  fleet,  hav- 
ing died,  I  was  assured  her  majesty  had  very  im- 
portant views  in  recalling  me.  Yet  I  could  not  but 
feel  grieved  to  be  deprived  of  my  command  when 
the  campaign,  so  far  as  regarded  maritime  opera- 
tions, was  so  nearly  concluded. 

"  As  soon  as  the  Prince  of  Nassau  went  off  all  the 
gold  swords  were  distributed  to  the  officers  of  the 
flotilla.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  this  arrangement, 
as  well  as  many  others  which  preceded  it,  was  not 
calculated  to  give  me  pleasure.  The  capture  of  the 
Turkish  galley,  and  the  boarding  of  the  galley  of 
the  capitan-pacha  on  the  1st  of  July,  were  without 
dispute  the  most  brilliant  actions  of  the  campaign 
of  the  Liman.  The  credit  of  them  was  most  unjustly 
given  to  the  flotilla,  and  my  officers  remained  with- 
out any  reward  for  the  important  services  wdiich 
they  had  rendered  in  these  affairs,  besides  those  of 
the  ISth  of  June,  the  30th  of  August,  and  the  9th 
of  October,  from  which  they  reaped  no  advantage. 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  351 

After  the  gold  swords  bad  been  distributed,  I  my- 
self beard  several  of  tbe  officers  wbo  got  them  to 
express  their  astonishment,  not  being  able  to  guess 
for  what  they  had  been  so  highly  rewarded. 

"  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  all  the  large  vessels 
which  the  flotilla  attacked  were  previously  aground. 
In  this  case  they  might  be  compared  to  men  with 
their  feet  nailed  to  planks,  and  their  hands  tied  be- 
hind their  backs.  This  is  the  only  instance  in  his- 
tor}^  of  ships  aground,  and  out  of  the  possibility  of 
being  recaptured,  being  attacked  and  destroyed, 
with  their  crews,  by  combustibles  such  as  tbe  brand- 
cougles.  It  ma}^  be  recollected  that  during  the 
whole  campaign  the  flotilla  had  not  taken  even  one 
small  vessel  afloat.  Since  a  very  mistaken  notion 
has  been  formed  of  the  vessels  taken  in  the  Liman 
on  the  17th  and  18th  of  June,  which  have  been 
called  '  ships  of  the  line,'  it  is  but  right  to  say  that 
I  made  Lieutenant  Fox  measure  the  hulls  of  the  two 
largest,  and  we  found  that  the  size  of  the  one  was 
130,  and  of  the  other  135,  feet  English  in  total 
length,  in  the  line  of  their  first  battery.  Apply 
this  to  naval  architecture.  Yet  the  Prince  of  Nas- 
sau has  been  rewarded  in  a  brilliant  manner  for 
*  having  destroyed  six,  and  captured  two,  ships  of  the 
line.'  The  only  three-masted  vessel  which  escaped 
burning  upon  the  ISth  of  June  was  a  caravel  of  one 
battery,  and  four  pieces  between  decks.  There 
escaped  also  one  small  brigantine  of  fourteen  three- 
pounders.  Such  were  the  two  vessels  of  the  line 
that  were  captured,  and  the  latter  w^as  wrecked  next 


353  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

day  by  the  carelessness  of  those  who  had  the  charge 
of  her.  In  place  of  eight  vessels  of  the  line,  the  capi- 
tan-pacha  had  come  into  the  Liraan  with  only  a  de- 
tachment of  caravels,  or  large  merchantmen,  frig- 
ates, bomb-ships,  and  other  smaller  craft.  Only  four 
of  the  caravels  carried  guns  between  decks.  Of 
this  number  was  the  vessel  saved.  On  one  of  these 
four  vessels  was  displayed  a  square  flag ;  but  there 
was  the  same  on  the  galley  and  the  kirlangiteh  of 
the  capitan-pacha.  It  has  been  already  said  that 
the  grand  fleet  without  Kinbourn  disphiyed  three 
admirals'  flags.  But  by  the  history  of  the  campaign 
given  by  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  it  appears  that  the 
capitan-pacha  had  lost  his  best  ship,  manned  with 
the  picked  men  of  his  fleet,  and  his  only  flag  as 
grand  admiral,  while  it  is  well  known  that  at  the 
end  of  the  campaign  he  went  back  to  Constantinople 
with  all  the  ships  of  the  line  he  had  at  its  commence- 
ment. 

"  As  I  was  told  that  some  ill-intentioned  persons 
in  the  army  had  said  that  I  had  been  deprived  of 
mv  command  because  the  officers  were  unwilling  to 
serve  under  me,  I  endeavored  to  procure  testimonials 
to  the  contrary,  and  have  seen  with  regret  that  the 
mind  is  not  alwavs  free :  and  that  men  sometimes 
dare  not  render  homage  to  truth. 

"  The  last  of  the  five  frigates,  called  at  the  time 
*  sea  batteries,'  did  not  rejoin  the  squadron  until  the 
19th  of  October,  and  on  the  same  day  admiral 
Mordwinoff  placed  the  line  of  the  blockading  vessels 
in  the  road,  much  further  out  than  before,  so  as  to 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  353 

mask  the  fire  of  all  the  guns  ashore  on  both  sides. 
It  was  ill-judged,  because  the  land  batteries  ought 
always  to  be  able  to  flank  a  line  of  blockade  foimed 
by  vessels  or  floating  batteries.  On  the  20th,  the 
wind  being  rather  fresh  from  the  north,  the  admiral 
made  a  signal  at  3  p.m.  for  all  the  flotilla  to  leave 
the  road,  and  come  while  it  was  in  their  favor  to 
take  station  near  Kinbourn.  This  movement  was 
entirely  unnecessary  for  the  safety  of  the  flotilla  ; 
but  the  capi tan-pacha  availed  himself  of  it,  and  got 
in  on  the  same  night  twenty-four  vessels  loaded  with 
ammunition  for  the  garrison,  and  having  on  board, 
besides  their  crews,  2,700  men.  The  flotilla  attacked 
these  vessels  on  the  succeeding  days  ;  but  the  Turks, 
having  taken  out  their  cargoes,  hauled  them  up  on 
the  road  under  the  cannon  of  their  batteries,  where 
much  harm  could  not  be  done  to  them. 

"  Having  reflected  that  the  season  was  too  far 
advanced  to  render  my  services  necessary  in  the 
North  Sea  before  the  following  year,  I  wrote  to  the 
prince  marshal,  offering  to  continue  my  services  till 
the  end  of  the  campaign.  I  was  indebted  to  him 
for  the  order  of  St.  Anne,  and  I  have  a  heart  natu- 
rally grateful.  He  directed  his  secretary,  M.  Popoff, 
to  write  me,  that  since  I  was  recalled  by  the  order 
of  the  empress  it  was  necessaiy  I  should  go. 

"  I  was  invited  to  headquarters  to  take  leave,  and 
to  receive  a  letter  from  the  prince  marshal  for  her 
imperial  majesty. 

''  As  I  was  much  interested  personally,  and  still 
more  so  in  relation  to  my  officers,  I  after  dinner 


354  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

spoke  freel}^,  and  told  M.  Popoff  all  that  was  on  my 
mind.  This  brigadier  repeated  what  I  had  said  to 
the  prince  marshal.  He  was  vexed  at  first,  but 
afterwards  he  sent  for  me  to  talk  with  him.  AVith- 
out  failing  in  the  respect  due  to  him,  I  spoke  to  him 
freely  enough.  I  told  him  he  had  played  an  unfair 
game  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign  in  dividing  the 
command  in  the  Liman  in  the  existing  circumstances 
of  the  country  ;  and  that,  if  I  had  not  resolved  to 
sacrifice  my  own  feelings  in  order  to  manage  the 
persons  he  had  given  me  for  colleagues,  the  cam- 
paign would  have  taken  a  very  different  turn.  He 
replied,  *  Agreed  ;  but  it  is  too  late  now.'  He  then 
said  he  would  be  glad  to  see  me  fixed  in  Russia,  and 
that  he  was  disposed  to  give  me  solid  proofs  of  his 
esteem,  both  now  and  in  future.  1  showed  him  the 
testimonial  of  the  captain  of  the  Wolodimer,  and 
some  other  papers,  to  convince  him  that  he  had 
neither  done  justice  to  me  nor  to  the  squadron.  He 
said  the  Prince  of  Nassau  pretended  all  was  done  by 
himself ;  '  but  I  have  never,'  said  he,  '  been  deceived 
in  him.  I  have  always  known  him  for  what  he  is.' 
He  proposed  that  I  should  go  to  Tagenroc  to  equip 
and  command  a  squadron  he  was  building  there  ; 
but  as  I  had  been  brought  to  Russia  to  take  the 
chief  command  in  the  Black  Sea,  and  had  received 
orders  from  the  empress  to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg, 
I  declined  the  offer.  I  only  entreated  that  he  would 
consider  the  services  of  my  officers,  and  give  them 
the  seniority  they  had  lost  by  the  promotion  of  those 
officers  of  the  flotilla  who  did  not  belong  to  the 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  355 

naval  service.  Admiral  Morclwinoff  made  the  same 
request,  and  the  prince  promised  to  do  them  jus- 
tice. 

''  Two  days  afterwards  I  received  a  letter  from 
the  prince  marshal  for  the  empress,  in  which  he 
noticed  the  zeal  and  anxiety  I  had  ever  shown  for 
her  service,  and  to  render  myself  worthy  of  her 
favor. 

"On  the  4th  of  November  the  capitan -pacha, 
having  withdrawn  his  advance  guard  in  the  night, 
set  sail  in  the  morning  with  his  whole  force,  entering 
first  Yarna,  and  afterwards  Constantinople,  with 
every  ship  of  the  line  he  had  at  the  opening  of  the 
campaign.  It  is  singuL-ir  that  this  enterprising  com- 
mander did  not  attempt  to  force  the  entrance  of  the 
Liman ;  for  Admiral  Mordwinoff  had  placed  the 
squadron  in  so  exposed  and  disadvantageous  a  situa- 
tion that  the  fire  of  the  land  batteries,  which  should 
have  flanked  him  without,  was  entirely  covered. 
But  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  Turkish  admiral 
believed  he  had  done  enough  for  the  safety  of 
Oczakow  by  the  succors  he  had  thrown  into  the 
place. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  agreeabl}^  to  a  secret 
order  from  the  prince  marshal,  the  Zaporavians 
landed,  to  the  number  of  2,000,  on  the  island  of 
Beresane.  The  Turkish  garrison,  being  only  300 
strong,  fired  a  few  random  shots,  and  then  surren. 
dered  with  discretion. 

"  Having  given  the  officers  whom  I  had  com- 
manded such  testimonials  as  they  merited,  I  em- 


356  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

barked  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  jSTovember  in 
a  small  open  galley  for  Cherson.  I  was  three  days 
and  three  nights  on  the  way,  and  suffered  a  great 
deal  from  the  excessive  cold.  The  day  after  my 
arrival  the  river  was  frozen  up,  and  I  was  taken 
dangerously  ill.  My  health  Avas  not  sufficiently  re- 
established to  enable  me  to  proceed  before  the  6th 
of  December.  Having  arrived  at  St.  Elizabeth,  I 
received  intelligence  that  Oczakow^  had  been  taken 
by  storm  on  the  6th.  The  garrison  was  11,000 
strong,  including  the  3,000  that  the  capitan -pacha 
had  throw^n  into  the  place  before  he  sailed.  Eut  the 
cold  had  become  extreme,  and  the  Russian  army 
being  formed  in  six  columns  to  attack  the  place  at 
day -dawn,  the  Turks  were  completely  disconcerted. 
Judging  from  the  past,  they  expected  no  such  visit ; 
and,  becoming  panic-struck,  suffered  their  throats 
to  be  cut  like  so  many  sheep.  In  the  fury  of  the 
assault  the  Russian  soldiers  spared  nothing.  I  have 
been  assured  that  from  18,000  to  19,000  Turks  per- 
ished on  that  dav. 

"  As  I  wished  to  delay  my  arrival  at  court  till 
that  of  the  prince  marshal,  I  stopped  some  days  at 
Skloff,  where  General  Soritsch  loaded  me  with  civil- 
ities. I  arrived  at  St.  Petersburg  on  the  28th  of 
December,  and  was  ordered  to  appear  at  court  on 
the  31st,  when  her  imperial  majesty  did  me  the  honor 
of  granting  me  a  private  audience.  I  presented  the 
letter  the  prince  marshal  had  given  me.  A  few  daj's 
afterwards  the  empress  sent  me  word,  through  Count 
de  Emitrigus-Mamonow,  that  she  must  await  the 


CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  LIMAN.  357 

arrival  of  Prince  Potemkin  before  deciding  on  what 
she  would  do  for  me.  In  the  meanwhile  Count 
Besborodko  told  me  that  a  command  of  greater  im- 
portance was  intended  for  me  than  that  of  the  Black 
Sea.  .  .   .  " 


358  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS. 

"When  Mr.  Littlepage  left  the  Liraan  the  rear- 
admiral  despatched  letters  by  him  to  Mr.  Jefferson. 
He  was  uncertain,  as  it  appears  from  them,  whether 
those  last  addressed  by  him  to  the  same  gentleman, 
from  Copenhagen,  had  been  received.  The  anxiety 
he  expressed  about  some  of  the  features  of  the  Ameri- 
can Constitution  shows  that  his  thoughts  turned  to 
the  land  of  his  adoption,  and  the  country  which  was 
in  fact  his  own. 

Jones  arrived  at  St.  Petersburg  on  the  28th  of 
December,  after  having  been  detained  at  St.  Eliza- 
beth by  the  indisposition  which  he  mentions,  and  on 
the  day  following  addressed  the  Comte  de  Mord- 
winoff,  desiring  as  early  an  opportunity  as  possible 
of  presenting  Potemkin's  letter,  of  which  he  was  the 
bearer,  to  the  empress. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  an  infamous  conspiracy 
to  ruin  his  character  was  gotten  up,  and  might  have 
been  successful  had  not  his  friends  assisted  him 
earnestly  in  exposing  the  falsehood  of  the  charges 
attempted  to  be  fastened  on  him.  The  nature  of 
these  charges,  with  the  history  of  the  persecution 
raised  upon  them  will  be  found  in  the  following 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  359 

letter  to  Potemkin.  "Who  its  authors  were  can  never 
be  known.  Both  Count  Segur  and  Jones  unhesitat- 
ingly ascribe  it  to  English  officers  in  the  Eussian 
navy,  and  the  English  merchants.  It  was  the  most 
natural  supposition,  in  the  absence  of  all  positive 
proof ;  but  it  was  supposition  only. 

"  St.  Peteesburg,  ISth  April,  1789. 

"  My  Lord, — Having  had  the  advantage  to  serve 
under  your  orders  and  in  your  sight,  I  remember 
with  particular  satisfaction  the  kind  promises  and 
testimonies  of  your  friendship  wath  which  you  have 
honored  me.  As  I  have  served  all  my  lif  for  honor, 
I  had  no  other  motive  for  accepting  the  flattering  in- 
vitation of  her  imperial  majesty  than  a  laudable  am- 
bition to  distinguish  myself  in  the  service  of  a  sov- 
ereign so  magnanimous  and  illustrious  ;  for  I  have 
never  yet  bent  the  knee  to  self-interest,  nor  drawn 
my  sword  for  hire.  A  few  days  ago  I  thought  my- 
self one  of  the  happiest  men  in  the  empire !  Your 
highness  had  renewed  to  me  your  promise  of  friend- 
ship, and  the  empress  had  assigned  me  a  command 
of  a  nature  to  occupy  the  most  active  and  enterpris- 
ing genius. 

"  A  bad  woman  has  accused  me  of  violatino^  her 
daughter  !  If  she  had  told  the  truth,  I  should  have 
candor  enough  to  own  it,  and  would  trust  my  honor, 
which  is  a  thousand  times  dearer  to  me  than  my  life, 
to  the  mercy  of  the  empress.  I  declare,  with  an  as- 
surance becoming  a  military  character,  that  I  am  in- 
nocent.   Till  that  unhappy  moment  I  have  enjoyed 


360  I^IFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  public  esteem,  and  the  affection  of  all  who  knew 
me.  Shall  it  be  said  that  in  Eussia  a  wretched 
woman,  who  eloped  from  her  husband  and  family  in 
the  country,  stole  away  her  daughter,  lives  here  in  a 
house  of  bad  fame,  and  leads  a  debauched  and  adul- 
terous life,  has  found  credit  enough  on  a  simple  com- 
plaint, unsupported  by  any  proof,  to  affect  the  honor 
of  a  general  officer  of  reputation,  who  has  merited 
and  received  the  decorations  of  America,  of  France, 
and  of  this  empire  ? 

''  If  I  had  been  favored  with  the  least  intimation 
of  a  complaint  of  that  nature  having  found  its  way 
to  the  sovereign,  I  know  too  well  what  belongs  to 
delicacy  to  have  presented  myself  in  the  presence  of 
the  empress  before  my  justification. 

"  My  servant  was  kept  prisoner  by  the  officers  of 
the  police  for  several  hours,  two  days  successively, 
and  threatened  with  the  knout. 

"  After  the  examination  of  my  people  before  the 
police,  I  sent  for  and  employed  Monsieur  Crimpin  as 
mv  advocate.  As  the  mother  had  addressed  herself 
to  him  before  to  plead  her  cause,  she  naturally  spoke 
to  him  without  reserve,  and  he  learned  from  her  a 
number  of  important  facts,  among  others,  that  she 
was  counseled  and  supported  by  a  distinguished  man 
of  the  court. 

"  By  the  certificate  of  the  father,  attested  by  the 
pastor  of  the  colony,  the  daughter  is  several  years 
older  than  is  expressed  in  the  complaint.  And  the 
complaint  contains  various  other  points  equally  false 
and  easy  to  be  refuted.     For  instance,  there  is  a  con- 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  361 

versation  I  am  said  to  have  held  with  the  daughter 
in  the  Eussian  language,  of  which  no  person  ever 
heard  me  pronounce  two  words  together  ;  it  is  un- 
known to  me. 

"  I  thought  that  in  every  country  a  man  accused 
had  a  right  to  employ  advocates,  and  to  avail  him- 
self of  his  friends  for  his  justification.  J'udge,  my 
prince,  of  my  astonishment  and  distress  of  mind, 
when  vesterdav  I  was  informed  that  the  day  before 
the  governor  of  the  city  had  sent  for  my  advocate 
and  forbidden  him,  at  his  peril,  or  any  other  person, 
to  meddle  with  my  cause  1 

"  I  am  innocent  before  God  I  and  my  conscience 
knows  no  reproach.  The  complaint  brought  against 
me  is  an  infamous  lie,  and  there  is  no  circumstance 
that  gives  it  even  an  air  of  probability. 

"  I  address  myself  to  you  w^ith  confidence,  my 
prince,  and  am  assured  that  the  friendship  you  have 
so  kindly  promised  me  will  be  immediately  exerted 
in  my  favor  ;  and  that  you  will  not  suffer  the  iilas 
trious  sovereign  of  this  great  empire  to  be  misled  by 
the  false  insinuations  and  secret  cabals  of  my  hidden 
enemies.  Your  mind  will  find  more  true  pleasure  in 
pleading  the  cause  of  an  innocent  man  whom  you 
honor  with  your  friendship,  than  can  result  from 
other  victories  equally  glorious  with  that  of  Ocza- 
kow,  whicli  will  always  rank  among  the  most  bril- 
liant of  military  achievements.  If  your  highness 
will  condescend  to  question  ]\Ionsieur  Crimpin  (for 
he  dare  not  now  even  speak  to  me),  he  can  tell  you 
many  circumstances  wlaoh   will  elucidate  my  inno- 


362  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

cence.     I  am,  with  profound  respect,   my  lord,  your 
highness's  devoted  and  most  obedient  servant." 

Count  de  Segur,  who  was  certainly  a  warm  and 
disinterested  friend  of  Jones,  Las  given  a  narrative 
of  this  affair,  overwrought  in  most  particulars, 
egotistical  in  many,  and  in  some  not  very  material 
points  incorrect,  as  appears  from  the  statements  of 
Jones  himself.  Those  who  have  perused  the  count's 
reminiscences  will  be  at  no  loss  to  account  for  the 
coloring  given  to  this  particular  transaction,  as  it  is 
the  same  thrown  over  many  others  by  that  worthy 
and  self-complacent,  and  not  uninteresting,  writer. 
He  says : 

"  The  American  rear-admiral  was  favorably  wel- 
comed at  court ;  often  invited  to  dinner  by  the  em- 
press, and  received  with  distinction  into  the  best  so- 
ciety in  the  city  ;  on  a  sudden,  Catharine  commanded 
him  to  appear  no  more  in  her  presence. 

"  He  was  informed  that  he  Avas  accused  of  an  in- 
famous crime ;  of  assaulting  a  young  girl  of  fourteen, 
of  grossly  violating  her ;  and  that  probabl}^,  after 
some  preliminary  information,  he  would  be  tried  by 
the  courts  of  admiralty,  in  which  there  were  many 
English  officers,  who  w^ere  strongly  prejudiced 
against  him. 

"  As  soon  as  this  order  was  known  every  one 
abandoned  the  unhappy  American  ;  no  one  spoke  to 
him,  people  avoided  saluting  him,  and  every  door 
was  shut  against  him.  All  those  by  whom  but 
yesterday  he  had  been  eagerly  welcomed  now  fled 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  363 

from  him  as  if  he  had  been  infected  with  a  plague  ; 
besides,  no  advocate  would  take  charge  of  his  cause, 
and  no  public  man  would  consent  to  listen  to  him ; 
at  last  even  his  servants  would  not  continue  in  his 
service ;  and  Paul  Jones,  whose  exploits  every  one 
had  so  recently  been  ready  to  proclaim,  and  whoso 
friendship  had  been  sought  after,  found  himself  alone 
in  the  midst  of  an  immense  population  ;  St.  Peters- 
burg, a  great  capital,  became  to  him  a  desert. 

*'  I  went  to  see  him ;  he  was  moved  to  tears  by 
my  visit.  *  I  was  unwilling,'  he  said  to  me,  shaking 
me  by  the  hand,  '  to  knock  at  your  door,  and  expose 
myself  to  a  fresh  affront,  which  would  have  been 
more  cutting  than  all  the  rest.  I  have  braved  death 
a  thousand  times  ;  now  I  wish  for  it.'  His  appear- 
ance, his  arms  being  laid  upon  the  table,  made  me 
suspect  some  desperate  intention. 

" '  Kesume,'  I  said  to  him,  '  your  composure  and 
your  courage.  Do  you  not  know  that  human  life, 
like  the  sea,  has  its  storms,  and  that  fortune  is  even 
more  capricious  than  the  winds  ?  If,  as  I  hope,  you 
are  innocent,  brave  this  sudden  tempest ;  if,  unhap- 
pily, you  are  guilty,  confess  it  to  me  with  unreserved 
frankness,  and  I  will  do  everything  I  can  to  snatch 
you,  by  a  sudden  flight,  from  the  danger  which 
threatens  you.' 

"  ^  I  swear  to  3^ou  upon  my  honor,'  said  he, '  that  I 
am  innocent,  and  a  victim  of  a  most  infamous  cal- 
umny. This  is  the  truth.  Some  days  since  a  young 
girl  came  to  me  in  the  morning  to  ask  me  if  I  could 
give  her  some  linen  or  lace  to  mend.     She  then  in- 


364  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

dulged  in  some  rather  earnest  and  indecent  allure- 
ments. Astonished  at  so  much  boldness  in  one  of 
such  few  years,  I  felt  compassion  for  her;  I  advised 
her  not  to  enter  upon  so  vile  a  career,  gave  her  some 
money,  and  dismissed  her ;  but  she  was  determined  to 
remain. 

" '  Impatient  at  this  resistance,  I  took  her  by  the 
hand  and  led  her  to  the  door ;  but  at  the  instant 
when  the  door  was  opened,  the  little  profligate  tore 
her  sleeves  and  her  neck-kerchief,  raised  great  cries, 
complained  that  I  had  assaulted  her,  and  threw  her- 
self into  the  arms  of  an  old  woman,  whom  she  called 
her  mother,  and  who,  certainly,  was  not  brought 
there  by  chance.  The  mother  and  the  daughter 
raised  the  house  with  their  cries,  went  out,  and  de- 
nounced me  ;  and  now  you  know  all.' 

^' '  Yery  well,'  said  I,  '  but  cannot  you  learn  the 
names  of  those  adventurers? '  '  The  porter  knows 
them,'  he  replied.  *  Here  are  their  names  written 
down,  but  I  do  not  know  where  thev  live.  I  was 
desirious  of  immediately  presenting  a  memorial 
about  this  ridiculous  affair,  first  to  the  minister,  and 
then  to  the  empress ;  but  I  have  been  interdicted 
from  access  to  both  of  them.'  *  Give  me  the  paper,' 
I  said  ;  *  resume  your  accustomed  firmness;  be  com- 
forted ;  let  me  undertake  it ;  in  a  short  time  we 
shall  meet  again.' 

"  As  soon  as  I  had  returned  home  I  directed  some 
sharp  and  intelligent  agents  who  were  devoted  to 
me  to  get  information  respecting  these  suspected 
females,  and  to  find  out  what  was  their  mode  of  life. 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  365 

I  was  not  long  in  learning  that  the  old  woman  was 
in  the  habit  of  carrvinor'  on  a  vile  traffic  in  vouns: 
girls,  whom  she  passed  off  as  her  daughters. 

"  When  I  was  furnished  with  all  the  documents 
and  attestations  for  which  I  had  occasion,  I  hastened 
to  show  them  to  Paul  Jones.  '  You  have  nothing 
more  to  fear,'  said  I ;  'the  wretches  are  unmasked. 
It  is  only  necessary  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  empress, 
and  let  her  see  how  unworthily  she  has  been  de- 
ceived ;  but  this  is  not  so  very  eas}^ :  truth  encoun- 
ters a  multitude  of  people  at  the  doors  of  a  palace, 
who  are  very  clever  in  arresting  its  progress ;  and 
sealed  letters  are,  of  all  others,  those  which  are  inter- 
cepted with  the  greatest  art  and  care.  Neverthe- 
less, I  know  that  the  empress,  who  is  not  ignorant  of 
this,  has  directed,  under  very  heavy  penalties,  that 
no  one  shall  detain  on  the  way  any  letters  which  are 
addressed  to  her  personally,  and  which  ma}^  be  sent 
to  her  by  post ;  therefore,  here  is  a  very  long  letter 
which  I  have  written  to  her  in  vour  name.  Nothino: 
of  the  detail  is  omitted,  although  it  contains  some 
rough  expressions.  I  am  sonw  for  the  empress ;  but, 
since  she  heard  and  gave  credit  to  a  calumny,  it  is 
but  right  that  she  should  read  the  justification  with 
patience.  Copy  this  letter,  sign  it,  and  1  will  take 
charge  of  it ;  I  will  send  some  one  to  put  it  in  the 
post  at  the  nearest  town.  Take  courage  ;  believe  me, 
your  triumph  is  not  doubtful.' 

"  In  fact,  the  letter  was  sent  and  put  in  the  post; 
the  empress  received  it ;  and,  after  having  read  the 
memorial,  which  was  fully  explanatory,  and  accom- 


366  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

panied  by  undeniable  attestations,  she  inveighed 
bitterly  against  the  informers,  revoked  her  rigorous 
orders,  recalled  Paul  Jones  to  court,  and  received 
him  with  her  usual  kindness. 

"  That  brave  seaman  enjoyed  with  a  becoming 
pride  a  reparation  which  was  due  him;  but  he 
trusted  very  little  to  the  compliments  that  were  un- 
blushingly  heaped  upon  him  by  tlie  many  persons 
who  had  fled  from  him  in  his  disgrace  ;  jmd,  shortly 
afterwards,  disgusted  with  a  countr}^  where  the  for- 
tunes of  a  man  may  be  exposed  to  such  humiliations 
under  the  pretense  of  ill-health,  he  asked  leave  of 
the  empress  to  retire,  which  she  granted  him,  as 
well  as  an  honorable  order  and  a  suitable  pen- 
sion. 

"  He  took  leave,  after  having  expressed  to  me  his 
gratitude  for  the  service  which  I  had  rendered  him  ; 
and  his  respect  for  the  sovereign,  who,  although  she 
might  be  led  into  an  error,  knew  at  least  how  to 
make  an  honorable  reparation  for  a  fault  and  an  act 
of  injustice." 

Count  Segur  is  wrong  in  stating  that  Jones  re- 
ceived either  an  order  or  a  pension.  jS^either  baubles 
nor  money  were  doled  out  to  him, and  all  he  did  obtain 
was  an  honorable  leave  of  absence,  at  his  own  cost. 
The  malign  influence  exerted  against  him  triumphed, 
from  whatever  source  it  ma}^  have  proceeded. 
Of  what  this  source  Avas,  Jones  afterwards  received 
dark  and  unsatisfactory  information.  The  order  of 
St.  Anne,  the  only  one  which  he  received  from 
Kussia,  had  been  previously  awarded  to  him,  and 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  367 

was   of   an   inferior   grade,  not   conferi-ed   by   the 
empress  herself  directly. 

With  an  audience  of  leave,  and  the  gracious  com- 
pliment of  being  wished  "  a  good  journey  "  by  the 
empress,  Jones  iDade  farewell  to  the  Eussian  court. 

From  a  letter  subsequently  written  by  Jones  to 
the  Chevalier  Bourgoing,  French  minister  at  Ham- 
burg, it  appears  that,  when  he  left  St.  Petersburg, 
his  intention  was  to  have  revisited  Copenhagen.  "  I 
meant,"  he  says,  "  on  my  way  to  have  availed  my- 
self of  the  occasion  of  seeing  the  late  grand  review 
of  the  Prussian  army.  My  friend,  the  Count  de 
Segur,  favored  me  in  consequence  with  letters  for 
your  excellency  and  for  the  Count  d'Esterns,  where- 
of you  will  find  a  copy  in  the  enclosed  packet  for 
the  Baron  de  la  Houze,  which  I  leave  under  a  flying 
seal  for  your  perusal,  and  beg  you  to  forward  to 
him.  On  my  arrival  at  Warsaw  my  friends  advised 
me  not  to  appear  at  the  courts  of  Berlin  or  Copen- 
hagen under  the  present  political  circumstances. 
As  it  was  known  that  I  had  left  Kussia  dissatisfied, 
I  thought  best  to  give  my  enemies  there  no  handle 
against  me  (they  had  insinuated  that  I  would 
accept  a  command  in  the  Swedish  navy),  so  I  re- 
mained in  Poland  two  months,  and  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  hospitality  and  politeness  by  the 
king  and  people  of  fashion.  From  the  present 
troubles  in  Brabant,  ihe  necessity  of  supporting 
Sweden  through  the  contest  she  has  been  led  to 
eng-aofe  in,  and  other  circumstances,  I  need  not 
observe  to  a  man  of  your  information  and  judg- 


368  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

ment  that  I  fear  there  will  be  no  peace  this  winter ; 
and  that  the  Baltic  will  witness  warmer  work  than 
it  has  yet  done." 

The  nature  of  his  reception  at  the  court  of  Warsaw 
is  sufficiently  indicated  in  the  foregoing  epistle.  His 
first  occupation  on  arriving  in  that  capital  appears 
to  have  been  to  prepare  a  journal  of  his  American 
campaigns,  and  a  sketch  of  that  of  the  Liman, 
for  the  perusal  of  the  empress,  on  a  hint  she  had 
dropped,  probably  at  a  former  period. 

From  "Warsaw  he  went  to  Amsterdam,  and  there 
wrote  to  General  Washington  a  letter  of  devotion 
and  praise,  under  date  of  December  20th,  1789. 

On  the  same  date  he  wrote  to  the  Hon.  Charles 
Thompson,  secretary  of  Congress.  The  letter  con- 
eludes  as  follows  : 

"  You  mentioned  to  me  at  Kew  York  a  small  but 
convenient  estate  to  be  sold  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Lancaster.  I  think  you  said  it  had  belonged  to  Mr. 
Georo:e  Ross.  Mav  I  ask  the  favor  of  vou  to  in- 
quire  about  it,  and  favor  me  with  your  opinion  about 
the  purchase  of  it  ?  I  shall  probably  come  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  summer,  if  the  empress  does  not  invite  me 
to  return  to  Russia  before  the  opening  of  the  next 
campaign ;  a  thing  I  do  not  expect." 

Jones  w^ent  to  England,  as  has  been  mentioned, 
to  make  his  arrangements  with  Dr.  Bancroft,  and 
returned  to  Paris  the  same  spring.  He  had  been 
expected  in  that  city  early  in  the  winter,  as  appears 
by  a  letter  to  him  from  Mr.  Short,  United  States 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  369 

consul  at  the  court  of  France,  to  whom  he  had 
Avritten  in  relation  to  the  medal,  and,  as  it  would 
seem,  to  the  feasibility  of  having  a  series  struck, 
commemorating  his  victories  It  also  ajDpears  by 
this  letter  that  M.  Grand,  Jones'  banker  in  Paris, 
had  no  money  belonging  to  him  in  his  hands  at  this 
time;  which  corroborates  the  belief  that  he  visited 
Enirland  from  necessity. 

The  first  letter  from  Paris,  among  his  papers,  is 
to  M.  Genet,  who  remained  at  the  Eussian  court 
after  Count  Segur  had  left  it.     It  is  dated  June  1st. 

*'  As  I  arrived  here,"  he  says,  "  only  a  few  days 
ao-o  from  Holland  and  Eno^land,  I  have  not  yet  had 
the  pleasure  to  see  your  sister.  I  hope  to  have  the 
honor  very  soon,  and  will  deliver  to  her  my  bust,  as 
a  mark  of  personal  regard  towards  your  father  and 
yourself.  M.  de  Simolin  does  me  the  honor  to  for- 
ward this  letter  to  you.  I  have  shown  him  proof 
that,  if  I  have  not  sought  to  avenge  myself  of  the 
unjust  and  cruel  treatment  I  met  with  in  Eussia,  my 
forbearance  has  been  only  the  result  of  my  delicate 
attachment  towards  the  empress."  "You  will 
oblio*e  me  by  inquiring  at  the  cabinet,  and  demand- 
ing the  appointments  due  to  me  for  the  current 
year,  which  ends  the  1st  of  July,  agreeably  to  the 
promise  of  the  empress,  communicated  to  me  by  the 
Counts  de  Bruce  and  Besborodko.  I  wish  to  have 
that  money  immediately  transmitted  to  me." 

The  following  letter  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Taylor,  is 
one  of  the  few  documents  which  remain  to  be  inserted, 
that  can  be  read  without  painful  associations.    The 
24 


370  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

last  enemy  with  whom  all  men  have  to  contend,  and 
to  whom  they  must  all  yield  up  their  earthly  pos- 
sessions, hopes,  and  dreams,  had  already  effected 
a  lodgrment  in  the  constitution  of  Jones  ;  and  the 
period  of  action  was  closed  for  him.  Disappoint- 
ment from  many  quarters  embittered  the  last  two 
years  of  his  life,  and  promoted  the  progress  of  the 
disease,  or,  more  properly,  the  complication  of  dis- 
eases, which  was  hurrying  him  from  a  world  of  rest- 
lessness and  perplexity. 

"  Amsterdam,  March  26,  1790. 

"  I  wrote  you,  my  dear  friend,  from  Paris,  by 
Mr.  Kennedy,  who  delivered  me  the  kind  letter  you 
wrote  me  by  him.  Circumstances  obliged  me  to  re- 
turn soon  afterwards  to  America,  and  on  my  arrival 
in  New  York  Mr.  Thomson  delivered  me  a  letter 
that  had  been  intrusted  to  his  care  by  Mrs.  Loudon. 
It  would  be  superfluous  to  mention  the  great  satis- 
faction I  received  in  hearing  from  two  persons  I  so 
much  love  and  esteem,  and  whose  worthy  conduct 
as  wives  and  mothers  is  so  respectable  in  my  eyes. 
Since  my  return  to  Europe  a  train  of  circumstances 
and  changes  of  residence  have  combined  to  keep  me 
silent.  This  has  given  me  more  pain  than  I  can  ex- 
press, for  I  have  a  tender  regard  for  you  both,  and 
nothino^  can  be  indifferent  to  me  that  re2:ards  your 
happiness  and  the  welfare  of  your  children.  I  wish 
for  a  particular  detail  of  their  age,  respective 
talents,  characters,  and  education.  I  do  not  desire 
this  information  merely  from  curiosity.     It  would 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  37^ 

afford   me  real   satisfaction   to   be  useful  to  their 
establishment  in   life.     We  must  study  the  genius 
and  inclination  of  the  boys,  and  try  to  fit  them,  by 
a  suitable  education,  for  the  pursuits  we  may  be 
able  to  adopt  for  their  advantage.     When  their' edu- 
cation shall  be  advanced  to  a  proper  stage,  at  the 
school  of  Dumfries,  for  instance,  it  must  then  be  de- 
termined whether  it  may  be  most  economical  and 
advantageous  for  them  to  go  to  Edinburgh  or  France 
to  finish  their  studies.     All  this  is  supposing  them 
to  have  great  natural  genius  and  goodness  of  dispo- 
sition,  for  without  these   they  can  never  become 
eminent.     For  the  females,  they  require  an  educa- 
tion suited  to  the  delicacy  of  character  that  is  be- 
coming in  their  sex.     I  wish  I  had  a  fortune  to 
offer  to  each  of  them ;  but  though   this  is  not  the 
case,  I  may  yet  be  useful  to  them.     And  I  desire 
particularly  to  be  useful  to  the  two  young  women 
who  have  a  double  claim  on  my  regard,  as  they 
have  lost  their  father.     Present   my  kind   compli- 
ments to  Mrs.  Loudon,  to  her  husband,  to  Mr.  Taylor, 
and  your  two  families,  and  depend  upon  my  affec- 
tionate attachment. 

"  Write  me  without  delay,  and  having  sealed  and 
directed  your  letter  as  you  did  the  one  you  sent  me 
by  Mr.  Kennedy,  let  it  be  enclosed  in  a  cover,  and 
direct  the  cover  thus :  '  To  Messieurs  Stophorst  and 
Hubbard,  Amsterdam.'  You  will  inquire  if  it  be 
necessary  to  pay  a  part  of  the  postage,  in  order  that 
the  letter  may  be  sent  to  Holland  in  the  packet.  I 
should  be  glad  if  the  two  Miss  Youngs  would  do  me 


372  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  favor  to  write  me  each  a  paragraph  in  your 
letter,  or  to  write  to  me,  if  they  prefer  it,  each  a 
separate  letter,  and  I  should  be  glad  to  find  that 
they  understand  and  can  write  French." 

On  the  24:th  of  July,  1790,  he  wrote  to  Prince 
Potemkin,  recalling  his  promises  and  the  ilattering 
words  of  the  empress. 

Early  the  next  3^ear,  1791,  he  again  memorialized 
the  empress,  having,  for  aught  that  appears  to  the 
contrary,  heard  nothing  directly  or  indirectly  from 
Potemkin,  and  having  been  cheered  with  no  intima- 
tion from  the  empress  that  she  had  read  his  journals 
and  justificatory  papers,  or  held  him  in  remem- 
brance as  an  officer  subject  to  her  orders. 

To  several  letters  written  by  him  at  the  close  of 
February,  in  which  he  seems  to  have  had  a  respite 
from  the  immediate  effects  of  his  malady,  it  is 
merely  necessary  to  allude.  The  United  States 
having  named  a  vice-consul  for  the  port  of  Mar- 
seilles, and  the  appointment  of  other  functionaries 
for  commercial  purposes  in  different  European  ports 
being  expected,  he  offered  to  his  banker  in  Paris 
(M.  Grand)  his  good  offices  with  the  United  States' 
Secretary  of  Legation,  Mr.  Short,  to  procure  him 
such  a  situation  which  he  seemed  desirous  of  obtain- 
in  o-  ;  and  to  the  latter  gentleman  he  wrote  recom- 
mending M.  Keissen,  a  merchant  of  Amsterdam,  and 
friend  of  his,  to  be  nominated  as  consul  for  that 
port.  He  also  recommended  the  appointment  of  a 
commercial  agent  at  Elsineur.     He  says  in  the  con- 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  373 

elusion  of  this  letter :  ^  I  called  the  other  dav  on 
M.  Dupres,  who  informed  me  that  Mr.  Jefferson  had 
taken  from  him  the  dies  of  my  medal,  after  three 
examples  only  had  been  struck.  Pray  are  the  dies 
in  your  possession,  or  are  they  carried  to  America? 
Accept  my  compliments  on  your  success,  and  on  the 
credit  of  your  country.  But  I  am  still  of  opinion 
that  a  loan  may  be  made  at  less  than  five  per  cent.' 
He  inclosed  his  vindicatory  papers  in  relation  to  the 
Russian  campaign,  to  the  Hon.  AYilliam  Carmichael, 
who  was  in  a  diplomatic  capacity  at  Madrid.  He 
says :  "  You  will  judge  how  unfortunate  I  was  in 
having  to  do  with  the  greatest  knight  of  industry 
under  the  sun  :  an  enemy  the  more  dangerous  as  his 
ignorance,  which  has  since  appeared  in  such  glaring 
colors  to  all  Europe,  had  put  me  off  my  guard. 
Soon  after  I  left  Russia  I  sent  to  the  empress  my 
journal  of  the  important  campaign  1  commanded  on 
the  Liman,  and  before  Oczakow  ;  but  it  contained 
such  damning  proofs  against  my  enemies  that  it  has 
undoubtedly  been  intercepted.  As  a  sure  occasion 
offers,  I  shall  write  again  next  month ;  and  my 
letter  will  contain  m}^  resignation,  in  case  I  receive 
DO  immediate  satisfaction." 

The  last  letter  preserved,  in  which  he  indicates  a 
wish  to  cling  to  his  Russian  engagements,  is  one  to 
the  Baron  de  Grimm,  who  was  then  at  Bourbon  le 
Bair,  and  which  is  dated  July  9th,  1791. 

The  empress  replied  to  a  letter  from  Grimm  com- 
municating the   admiral's    suggestions ;    she   men- 


374  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

tioned  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  peace,  and  inti- 
mated that  if  she  should  have  occasion  for  the  services 
of  Jones  she  would  communicate  directly  with  him, 
without  the  necessity  of  the  baron's  intervention. 

From  this  time  the  symptoms  of  Jones  rapidly 
grew  alarming  and  unequivocal.  He  was  seized 
with  jaundice,  to  which  dropsy  succeeded,  and  died 
on  the  18th  of  July,  1792.  The  following  letters 
of  M.  Beaupoil  and  Colonel  Blackden  to  the  sisters 
of  the  rear-admiral,  furnish  the  best  account  of  his 
last  moments  and  the  manner  of  his  death  : 

"  Madam, — I  am  sorry  to  acquaint  you  that  your 
brother,  Admiral  Paul  Jones,  my  friend,  paid  yes- 
terday the  debt  we  all  owe  to  nature.  He  has  made 
a  will,  which  is  deposited  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Badinier,  notary,  St.  Servin  Street,  Paris.  'The  will 
was  drawn  in  English  by  Mr.  Gouverneur  Morris, 
minister  of  the  United  States,  and  translated  faith- 
fully  by  the  French  notary  aforesaid.  The  admiral 
leaves  his  property,  real  and  personal,  to  his  two 
sisters  and  their  children.  They  are  named  in  the 
will  as  being  married,  one  to  William  Taylor,  and 

the  other  to Loudon,  of  Dumfries.     The  executor 

is  Mr.  Kobert  Morris  of  Philadelphia.  If  I  could 
be  of  any  service  to  you  in  this  business,  out  of  the 
friendship  I  bore  your  brother,  I  would  do  it  with 
pleasure.     I  am  a  Frenchman  and  an  officer.     I  am 

sincerely  yours, 

"  Beaupoil. 
••  Paris,  July  19,  1793,  No.  7,  Hotel  Anglais. 
'*  Passage  des  P^tis  Pferes. 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  375 

"  The  English  will  is  signed  by  Colonels  Swan, 
Blackden,  and  myself.  The  schedule  of  his  prop- 
erty lying  in  Denmark,  Eussia,  France,  America, 
and  elsewhere,  is  signed  by  Mr.  Morris,  and  de- 
posited by  me  in  his  bureau,  with  the  original  will. 
Everything  is  sealed  up  at  his  lodgings,  Tournon 
Street,  No.  42,  Paris. 

"  You  may  also  depend  on  the  good  services  of 
Colonel  Blackden,  who  was  an  intimate  friend  of 
the  admiral's.  That  gentleman  is  setting  out  for 
London,  where  you  may  hear  of  him  at  No.  18, 
Great  Tichfield  Street,  London." 

"  London,  August  9th,  1Y92. 

"Madam,— I  had  the  honor  of  receiving  your 
letter  of  the  3d  instant,  and  shall  answer  you  most 
readily.  Your  brother,  Admiral  Jones,  was  not  in 
good  health  for  about  a  year,  but  had  not  been  so 
unwell  as  to  keep  house.  For  two  months  past  he 
began  to  lose  his  appetite,  to  grow  yellow,  and 
show  signs  of  the  jaundice  ;  for  this  he  took  medi- 
cine, and  seemed  to  grow  better;  but  about  ten 
days  before  his  death  his  legs  began  to  swell,  which 
increased  upwards,  so  that  two  days  before  his  exit 
he  could  not  button  his  waistcoat,  and  had  great 
difficulty  of  breathing. 

"  I  visited  him  every  day,  and,  beginning  to  be 
apprehensive  of  his  danger,  desired  him  to  settle  his 
affairs ;  but  this  he  put  off  till  the  afternoon  of  his 
death,  when  he  was  prevailed  on  to  send  for  a 
notaire,  and  made  his  will.     Mr.  Beaupoil  and  my- 


376  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

self  witnessed  it  at  about  eight  o'clock  iu  the  even* 
ing,  and  left  him  sitting  in  a  chair.  A  few  minutes 
after  we  retired,  he  walked  into  his  chamber,  and 
laid  himself  upon  his  face,  on  the  bedside,  with  his 
feet  on  the  floor ;  after  the  queen's  physician  ar- 
rived they  went  into  the  room,  and  found  him  in 
that  position,  and  upon  taking  him  up,  they  found 
that  he  had  expired. 

"  His  disorder  had  terminated  in  dropsy  of  the 
breast.  His  body  was  put  into  a  leaden  coffin  on 
the  20th,  that  in  case  the  United  States,  whom  he 
had  so  essentially  served,  and  with  so  much  honor 
to  himself,  should  claim  his  remains,  they  might  be 
more  easily  removed.  This  is  all,  Madam,  that  I 
can  say  concerning  his  illness  and  death. 

"  I  most  sincerely  condole  with  j^ou.  Madam,  upon 
the  loss  of  my  dear  and  respectable  friend,  for 
whom  I  entertained  the  greatest  affection,  and  as  a 
proof  of  it,  you  may  command  the  utmost  exertion 
of  my  feeble  abilities,  which  shall  be  rendered  with 
cheerfulness.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Madam,  your 
most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"  S.  Blackden." 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  letters  that  though 
suffering  so  severely  from  bodily  affliction,  and  no 
doubt  equally  from  mental  restlessness  and  dis- 
quietude, Jones  did  not  die  without  the  sympathy 
and  succor  of  respectable  friends,  nor  in  obscurity 
and  actual  want,  as  has  been  surmised,  and  indeed 
stated,  in  some  notices  of  his  life.     The  credentials 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  377 

of  his  excellency  Gouverneur  Morris,  as  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of  France,  had  been 
forwarded  to  him  from  America  in  the  latter  end  of 
January  preceding,  at  which  time,  it  is  inferred 
from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Jefferson  to  him,  he  was  not  in 
Paris.  AYith  him,  therefore,  Jones  could  not  have 
had  a  long  intercourse  ;  but  it  is  known  that,  though 
he  was  not  present  at  the  rear-admiral's  funeral,  the 
ambassador  showed  him  every  attention,  and  it 
appears  from  his  attest  to  a  schedule  that  he  was 
with  him  on  the  day  before  his  death. 

One  ray  of  brightness  might  have  gilded  the 
gloom  which  overhung  the  latter  days  of  Jones' 
life ;  but  there  is  little  reason  to  believe  that  he  was 
cheered  by  beholding  it.  He  might  have  learned 
that  the  United  States  had  yet  business  for  him  to 
execute,  in  which  the  feelings  of  our  citizens  were 
deeply  enlisted ;  and  the  management  of  which,  in 
the  opinion  of  government,  required  both  dexterity 
and  energy.  It  was  a  business  too  in  relation  to 
which  he  had  for  several  years  expressed  his  ardent 
desire  to  be  useful.  But  the  mission  came  too  late. 
On  the  1st  of  June  Mr.  Jefferson  wrote  to  him 
from  Philadelpha,  informing  him  that  the  President 
had  thought  proper  to  appoint  him  commissioner 
for  treating  with  the  Dey  and  government  of 
Algiers  on  the  subjects  of  peace  and  ransom  of 
American  captives  remaining  in  the  power  of  that 
regency.  A  knowledge  of  the  appointment  was  to 
rest  with  the  President,  Mr.  Pinckney,  who  had  just 
been  appointed  minister  to  England,  and  Mr.  Jef- 


378  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

ferson.     The  secret  instructions  given  in  the  letter 
are  of  much  interest. 

The  national  assembly  paid  his  memory  the  honor 
of  sending  a  deputation  of  twelve  of  their  body  to 
attend  the  funeral.  He  was  buried  at  Paris  on  the 
20th  of  July. 

"  Testament  of  Paul  Jones,  18th  July,  1792. 

"Before  the  undersigned  notaries,  at  Paris,  ap- 
peared Mr.  John  Paul  Jones,  citizen  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  resident  at  present  in  Paris, 
lodged  in  the  Street  of  Tournon,  No.  42,  at  the 
house  of  M.  Dorberque,  hidssier  audiancier  of  the 
tribunal  of  the  third  arrondissement,  found  in  a 
parlor  in  the  first  story  above  the  floor,  lighted  by 
two  windows  opening  on  the  said  Street  of  Tournon, 
sitting  in  an  armchair,  sick  of  body,  but  sound  of 
mind,  memory,  and  understanding,  as  it  appeared 
to  the  undersigned  notaries  by  his  discourse  and 
conversation, — 

"  Who,  in  view  of  death,  has  made,  dictated,  and 
worded,  to  the  undersigned  notaries,  his  testament 
as  follows : 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  all  the  goods,  as  well  mov- 
able as  heritable,  and  all,  generally,  whatever  may 
appertain  to  me  at  my  decease,  in  whatever  countr}^ 
they  may  be  situated,  to  my  two  sisters,  Janette, 
spouse  to  William  Taylor,  and  Mary,  wife  to  Mr. 
Loudon,  and  to  the  children  of  my  said  sisters,  to 
divide  them    into  as  many  portions  as  my   said 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  379 

sisters  and  their  children  shall  make  up  individuals, 
and  to  be  enjoyed  by  them  in  the  following  man- 
ner : 

''  My  sisters,  and  those  of  their  children  who,  on 
the  day  of  my  death,  shall  have  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  will  enjoy  their  share  in  full  property 
from  the  date  of  decease.  As  for  those  of  my 
nephews  and  nieces  w^ho  at  that  period  of  time  may 
not  reach  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  their 
mothers  w^ill  enjoy  their  shares  till  such  time  as 
they  attain  that  said  age,  with  charge  to  them  to 
provide  for  their  food,  maintenance,  and  education ; 
and  as  soon  as  any  of  my  nephews  or  nieces  will 
have  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  the  same 
will  enjoy  his  share  in  full  property. 

"  If  one  or  more  of  my  nephews  and  nieces  should 
happen  to  die  without  children  before  having 
reached  the  age  of  twenty- one,  the  share  of  those  of 
them  w^ho  may  have  deceased  shall  be  divided  be- 
twixt my  said  sisters  and  my  other  nephews  and 
nieces  by  equal  portions. 

"  I  name  the  Honorable  Kobert  Morris,  Esq.,  of 
Philadelphia,  my  only  testamentary  executor. 

"  I  revoke  all  other  testaments  or  codicils  which 
I  may  have  made  before  the  present,  which  alone  I 
stand  by  as  containing  my  last  will. 

"  So  made,  dictated,  and  worded,  by  said  testator, 
to  the  said  notaries  undersigned,  and  afterwards 
read,  and  read  over  again  to  him  by  one  of  them, 
the  other  being  present,  which  he  well  understood, 
and  persevered  in,  at  Paris,  the  year  1792.  the  18th 


380  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

July,  about  five  o'clock  afternoon,  in  the  room  here- 
tofore described,  and  the  said  testator  signed  the 
original  of  the  present,  unregistered,  at  Paris,  the 
25th  September,  1792,  by  Defrance,  who  received 
one  livre,  provisionally,  save  to  determine  defini- 
tively the  right  after  the  declaration  of  the  revenue 
of  the  testator.  The  original  remained  with  Mr. 
Pottier,  one  of  the  notaries  at  Paris,  undersigned, 
who  delivered  these  presents  this  day,  26th  Sep- 
tember, 1792,  first  of  the  French  republic. 

a  PoTTIEE. 

(Signed)  "  L'Avernier." 

*'  Schedule  of  the  property  of  Admiral  John  Paul 
Jones,  as  stated  by  him  to  me  this  18th  of  July, 
1792. 

"  1.  Bank  stock  in  the  Bank  of  l!^orth  America, 
at  Philadelphia,  six  thousand  dollars,  wath  sundry 
dividends. 

"  2.  Loan-Office  certificate  left  with  my  friend 
Mr.  Eoss,  of  Philadelphia,  for  two  thousand  dollars, 
at  par,  with  great  arrearages  of  interest,  being  for 
ten  or  twelve  years. 

"  3.  Such  balance  as  may  be  in  the  hands  of  my 
said  friend  John  Koss,  belonging  to  me,  and  sundry 
effects  left  in  his  care. 

"  4.  Mv  lands  in  the  state  of  Vermont. 

"  5.  Shares  in  the  Ohio  Company. 

"  6.  Shares  in  the  Indiana  Company. 

"  7.  About  1,800  pounds  sterling  due  to  me  from 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  381 

Edward  Bancroft,  unless  paid  by  him  to  SirKobert 
Herries,  and  is  then  in  his  hands. 

"  8.  Upwards  of  four  3^ears  of  my  pension  due 
from  Denmark,  to  be  asked  from  the  Count  de 
Bernstorf. 

''  9.  Arrearages  of  my  pay  from  the  empress  of 
Russia,  and  all  my  prize  money. 

"  10.  The  balance  due  to  me  by  the  United  States 
of  America,  of  sundry  claims  in  Europe,  which  will 
appear  from  my  papers. 

"  This  is  taken  from  his  mouth. 

"  GOUVERNEUR   MoRRIS." 

Several  papers  and  vouchers,  nominally  for  a  con- 
siderable value,  were  certified  by  Mr.  Robert  Hyslop, 
of  Xew  York,  in  1797,  to  have  been  left  in  his  hands, 
"  belono^ino:  to  the  estate  of  the  late  Commodore 
Jones."  The  value  of  most  of  them,  it  would  seem 
from  the  inven-tory,  was  merely  nominal,  so  far  as 
money  could  be  recovered  upon  them. 

Whatever  claim  Jones  might  have  had  upon  this 
government,  none  has  ever  been  urged  since  the 
partial  settlement  of  his  accounts  in  1787,  of  which 
his  correspondence  and  the  accompanying  docu- 
ments make  any  mention.  His  representatives  were 
more  fortunate,  in  obtaining  a  partial  payment  from 
France.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Taylor,  set  out  from  Scot- 
land for  Paris,  in  the  month  of  October  next  after 
his  death,  and  after  some  adventures  almost  roman- 
tic, succeeded  in  obtaining  shelter,  and  an  introduc- 
tion which  enabled  her  to  appear  in  person  before 


382  LIFE  OF  PAUL  JONES. 

the  national  assembly  and  present  her  claim.  Pay- 
ment was  ordered ;  but  she  was  obliged  to  escape 
and  find  her  way  home  through  tumult  and  danger 
after  all  her  acquaintances  had  left  the  capital,  be- 
fore she  received  the  whole  amount.  She  was  in  the 
city  when  Louis  XYI.  suffered,  a  spectacle  her 
brother  was  spared  from  witnessing.  His  remains 
moldered  quietly  in  the  spot  where  they  were  de- 
posited, while  the  storms  of  revolution  roared  over 
them  unheard. 

His  papers  were  among  the  articles  belonging  to 
him  which  Mrs.  Taylor  was  enabled  to  secure. 
Three  days  after  she  left  Paris,  Mr.  White,  Maitre 
d'Hotel  Anglais,  with  whom  she  had  lodged,  was 
arrested  and  his  effects  were  seized. 

In  the  personal  appearance  of  Paul  Jones  there 
was  nothing,  if  we  may  credit  the  statement  of  those 
who  remember  him,  and  among  these,  of  ladies, 
who  are  perhaps  the  best  judges  ;  nor  is  there  any- 
thing in  the  busts  or  pictures  taken  of  him  that 
would  have  particularly  attracted  attention.  He 
was  of  the  middle  size,  if  not  rather  under ;  natu- 
rally active  in  body,  and  capable  of  undergoing  much 
fatigue,  as  is  evident  from  the  record  of  his  life. 
His  bust,  by  Houdon,  of  which  several  copies  remain 
in  this  country,  is  believed  to  be  the  best  representa- 
tion of  his  features  ever  made.  Their  character  is 
that  of  decision  and  self-will. 

He  was  precisely  one  of  those  men  whom  America 
wanted,  and  whom  Providence  in  its  wisdom  raised 
up  for  the  exigency.    The  very  defects  of  his  educa- 


THE  GRATITUDE  OF  KINGS.  383 

tion,  and  even  of  his  temper,  were  advantages  to  a 
cause  where  positive  energy  was  invoked.  He  must 
and  will  be  honored  among  the  foremost  patriots 
whose  services  in  battle  the  people  of  this  republic 
are  bound  to  hold  in  hallowed  remembrance. 


APPENDIX. 

JS^o  I. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  to  the  Honorable 
Robert  Morris,  is  published  entire  because  it  com- 
prehends the  substance,  and  in  many  instances  the 
literal  expressions  of  Jones,  in  several  other  letters 
private  and  oflBcial,  relating  to  his  own  opinion  of 
what  should  be  the  organization  of  the  navy  ;  and 
giving  a  history  of  the  difficulties  which  arose  in 
the  infant  fleet  of  the  countrj^,  concerning  rank. 

"  Philadelphia,  October  10th,  1783. 
«  Sir,— 

"  It  is  the  custom  of  nations  on  the  return  of  peace 
to  honor,  promote  and  reward  such  officers  as  have 
served  through  the  war  with  the  greatest  'zeal, 
prudence  and  intrepidity.'  And  since  my  country 
has,  after  an  eight-years'  war,  attained  the  inesti- 
mable blessing  of  peace  and  the  sovereignty  of  an  ex- 
tensive empire  ;  I  presume  that  (as  I  have  constantly 
and  faithfully  served  through  the  Revolution,  and 
at  the  same  time  supported  it,  in  a  degree,  with  my 
purse),  1  may  be  allowed  to  lay  m}^  grievances  be- 
fore you,  as  the  head  of  the  marine.  I  will  hope, 
25  385 


386  APPENDIX.  • 

sir,  through  you,  to  meet  with  redress  from  Con- 
gress. Kank,  which  opens  the  door  to  glory,  is  too 
near  the  heart  of  every  oflBcer  of  true  military  feel- 
ing to  be  given  up  in  favor  of  any  other  man  who 
has  not,  by  the  achievement  of  some  brilliant  action, 
or  by  known  and  superior  abilities,  merited  such 
preference.  If  this  be  so,  how  must  I  have  felt, 
since,  by  the  second  table  of  captains  in  the  navy, 
adopted  by  Congress  on  the  10th  of  October,  1776, 
I  was  superseded  in  favor  of  thirteen  persons,  two 
of  whom  were  my  junior  lieutenants  at  the  begin- 
ning ;  the  rest  were  only  commissioned  into  the  con- 
tinental navy  on  that  day ;  and  if  they  had  any 
superior  abilities  these  were  not  then  known,  nor 
have  since  been  proved  !  I  am  the  oldest  sea  offi- 
cer (except  Captain  Whipple)  on  the  Journal,  and 
under  the  commission  of  Congress,  remaining  in  the 
service.  In  the  year  1775,  when  the  navy  was 
established,  some  of  the  gentlemen  by  whom  I  was 
superseded  were  applied  to  to  embark  in  the  first 
expedition ;  but  they  declined.  Captain  Whipple 
has  often  and  lately  told  me  that  they  said  to  him, 
*  they  did  not  choose  to  be  hanged.'  It  is  certain 
the  hazard  at  the  first  was  very  great ;  and  some 
respectable  gentlemen,  by  whom  I  am  superseded, 
accepted  the  appointments  of  captain  and  lieutenant 
of  a  provincial  vessel  for  the  protection  of  the  river, 
after  our  fleet  had  sailed  from  it ;  and  on  board  of 
which  they  had  refused  to  embark,  though  I  pre- 
tend not  to  know  their  reason.  But  the  face  of 
aifairs  having  changed,  as  we  ripened  into  the  Dec- 


APPENDIX.  387 

laration  of  Independence  in  1776,  their  apprehen- 
sions subsided ;  and  in  a  letter  I  received  from 
the  late  Mr.  Joseph  Ilewes,  of  Congress,  and  of  the 
marine  committee,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Ma}^  the 
26th,  1776,  and  directed  to  me  as  captain  of  the  Prov- 
idence at  New  York,  he  says  :  '  You  would  be 
surprised  to  hear  what  a  vast  number  of  applications 
are  continually  making  for  officers  of  the  new  frig- 
ates, especially  for  the  command.  The  strong  recom- 
mendations  from  those  provinces  where  any  frig- 
ates are  building  have  great  weight.' 

"  He  adds :  '  My  utmost  endeavors  shall  be  exerted 
to  serve  you;  from  a  conviction  that  your  merit 
entitles  you  to  promotion,  and  that  you  ought  to 
command  some  who  were  placed  higher  than  your- 
self.' I  ask,  sir,  did  these  '  recommendations  ' 
plead  more  successful  than  the  merit  of  all  the  gal- 
lant men  who  first  braved  the  ocean  in  the  cause  of 
America  ?  Your  candor  must  answer,  Yes.  What 
hapless  prospect  then  have  those  who  can  only  claim 
from  past,  though  applauded,  services  ?  Credit, 
it  is  alleged,  has  been,  however,  taken  in  this  Eevo- 
lution  for  '  unparalleled  heroism.'  I  am  sorry  for 
it ;  for  great  as  our  pretensions  to  heroism  may  be, 
yet  modesty  becomes  3^oung  nations  as  well  as  young 
men.  But  the  first  beginning  of  our  navy  was,  as 
navies  now  rank,  so  singularly  small  that  I  am  of 
opinion  it  has  no  precedent  in  history.  Was  it  a 
proof  of  madness  in  the  first  corps  of  sea  officers  to 
have,  at  so  critical  a  period,  launched  out  on  the 
ocean,  with  only  two  armed  merchant  ships,  two 


388  APPENDIX. 

armed  brigantines,  and  one  armed  sloop,  to  make 
war  against  such  a  power  as  Great  Britain  ?  They 
had,  perhaps,  in  proportion  to  their  number,  as 
much  sense  as  the  present  table  of  officers  can  boast 
of ;  and  it  has  not  yet  been  proved  that  they  did 
not  understand  at  least  as  well  their  duty. 

"  Their  first  expedition  was  far  more  glorious  than 
any  other  that  has  been  since  attempted  from  our 
coast.  Every  officer  on  that  service  merited  pro- 
motion, who  was  capable  of  receiving  it.  And,  if 
there  was  an  improper  man  placed  over  them  as 
commander-in-chief,  was  that  a  reason  to  slio^ht  or 
disgrace  the  whole  corps  ?  Has  the  subsequent  mil- 
itary conduct  of  those  officers,  by  whom  the  first 
corps  of  sea  officers  were  superseded,  justified  the 
preference  they  had  to  command  the  new  frigates  ? 
If  it  has  not,  what  shall  we  say  in  favor  of  the  prece- 
dence, which,  ^  Eepugnant  to  an  Act  of  Congress, 
of  the  22d  of  December,  1YY5,'  and  contrary  to  all 
rule  or  example,  was  given  them  in  the  second  table 
of  naval  rank,  adopted  the  10th  of  October,  1776  ? 
Could  anything  have  been  more  humiliating  than 
this  to  sea  officers  appointed  and  commissioned  in 
1775?  Would  it  not  have  been  more  kind  to  have 
dismissed  them  from  the  service,  even  without  as- 
signing a  reason  for  so  doing  ?  Before  any  second 
arrangement  of  naval  rank  had  been  made,  perhaps 
it  would  have  been  good  policy  to  have  commissioned 
five  or  seven  old  mariners,  who  had  seen  war,  to  have 
examined  the  qualifications  of  the  candidates,  espe- 
cially, those  who  made  their  conditions  and  sought 


APPENDIX.  389 

SO  earnestly  after  command  of  the  new  frigates. 
Those  commissioners  might  also  have  examined  the 
qualifications  of  the  first  corps  of  sea  officers,  pro- 
moted such  as  were  capable  of  it,  and  struck  from 
the  list  such  as  were  unequal  to  the  commission 
they  bore,  etc.  Thus,  by  giving  precedence  in  rank 
to  all  the  captains  who  had  served  and  were  thought 
worthy  of  being  continued  ;  and  also  to  all  lieuten- 
ants promoted  to  the  rank  of  captains,  for  their 
meritorious  services  and  fit  qualifications,  justice 
mio'ht  have  been  done  both  to  individuals  and  to 
the  public.  It  has  been  said,  with  a  degree  of  con- 
tempt, by  some  of  the  gentlemen  who  came  into  the 
continental  navy  the  second  year  of  the  war,  that 
'  I  was  only  a  lieutenant  at  the  beginning  ; '  and 
pray,  what  were  they  when  I  was  out  on  the  ocean 
in  that  character  ?  They  pay  me  a  compliment. 
To  be  diffident  is  not  always  a  proof  of  ignorance, 
but  sometimes  the  contrary.  I  was  offered  a  cap- 
tain's commission  at  the  first,  to  command  the  Prov- 
idence, but  declined  it.  Let  it,  however,  be  re- 
membered that  there  were  three  grades  of  sea 
lieutenants  established  by  the  Act  of  Congress  of 
the  22d  of  December.  1775 ;  and  as  I  had  the  honor 
to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  first  of  those  grades, 
it  is  not  quite  fair  in  those  gentlemen  to  confound 
me  with  the  last ;  yet,  when  I  came  to  try  my  skill, 
I  am  not  ashamed  to  own,  I  did  not  find  myself  per- 
fect in  the  duties  of  a  first  lieutenant.  However,  I 
by  no  means  admit  that  any  one  of  the  gentlemen 
who  so  earnestly  sought  after  rank  and  the  com- 


390  APPENDIX.  ( 

mand  of  the  new  frigates  the  next  year  was  at  the 
beginning  able  to  teach  me  any  part  of  the  duty  of 
a  sea  officer.  Since  that  time,  it  is  well  known,  there 
has  been  no  comparison  between  their  means  of 
acquiring  military  marine  knowledge  and  mine. 

"  If  midnight  stud}^,  and  the  instruction  of  the 
greatest  and  most  learned  sea  officers,  can  give  me 
advantages,  I  am  not  Avithout  them.  I  confess, 
however,  I  am  yet  to  learn.  It  is  the  work  of  many 
years'  stud}^  and  experience  to  acquire  the  high  de- 
gree of  science  necessary  for  a  great  sea  officer. 
Cruising  after  merchant  ships,  the  service  on  which 
our  frigates  have  generally  been  employed,  affords, 
I  may  say,  no  part  of  the  knowledge  necessary  for 
conducting  fleets  and  their  operations.  There  is 
now,  perhaps,  as  much  difference  between  a  single 
battle  between  two  ships,  and  an  engagement  be- 
tween two  fleets,  as  there  is  between  a  single  duel 
and  a  ranged  battle  between  two  armies.  I  became 
captain  by  right  of  service  and  succession,  and  by 
order  and  commission  of  his  excellency  Ezek.  Hop- 
kins, Esq.,  commander-in-chief,  the  lOthday  of  May, 
1776,  at  which  time  the  captain  of  the  Providence 
was  broke  and  dismissed  from  the  navv  by  a  court- 
martial.  Having  arrived  at  Philadelphia  with  a 
little  convov  from  Boston,  soon  after  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  President  Hancock  gave  me  a 
captain's  commission  under  the  United  States,  dated 
the  8th  day  of  August,  1776.  I  did  not  at  the  time 
think  this  was  doing  me  justice ;  as  it  did  not  cor- 
respond with  the  date  of  my  appointment  by  the 


APPENDIX.  391 

commander-in-chief.  It  was,  however,  I  presumed, 
the  first  naval  commission  granted  under  the  United 
States.  And  as  a  resolution  of  Congress  had  been 
passed  the  ITth  day  of  April,  1776,  '  that  the  nomi- 
nation of  captains  shoukl  not  determine  rank,  which 
was  to  be  settled  before  commissions  were  granted.' 
My  commission  of  the  8th  of  August,  1776,  must,  by 
that  resolution,  take  rank  of  every  commission  dated 
the  10th  of  October,  1776.  My  duty  brought  me 
again  to  Philadelphia  in  April,  1777 ;  and  President 
Hancock  then  told  me  that  new  naval  commissions 
were  ordered  to  be  distributed  to  the  officers. 

"  He  requested  me  to  show  him  the  captain's  com- 
mission he  hadHven  me  the  vear  before.  I  did  so. 
He  then  desired  me  to  leave  it  with  him  a  day  or  two, 
till  he  could  find  a  leisure  moment  to  fill  up  a  new 
commission.  I  made  no  difficulty.  When  I  waited 
on  him  the  day  before  my  departure,  to  my  great  sur- 
prise, he  put  into  my  hands  a  commission  dated  the 
10th  day  of  October,  1776,  and  numbered  eighteen 
on  the  margin !  I  told  him  that  was  not  w^hat  1 
expected,  and  requested  my  former  commission. 
He  turned  over  various  papers  on  the  table,  and  at 
last  told  me  he  w^as  sorry  to  have  lost  or  mislaid  it. 
He  paid  me  many  compliments  on  the  services  I  had 
performed  in  vessels  of  little  force,  and  assured  me 
no  officer  stood  higher  in  the  opinion  of  Congress 
than  myself  ;  a  proof  of  which,  he  said,  was  my  late 
appointment  to  the  command  of  secret  expeditions, 
with  five  sail  and  men  proportioned,  against  St, 
Kitts,  Pensacola,  Augustine,  etc.    That  the  table  of 


392  APPENDIX. 

naval  rank  that  had  been  adopted  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1776,  had  been  drawn  up  in  a  hurry,  and 
without  well  knowing  the  different  merits  and  qual- 
ifications of  the  officers  ;  but  it  was  the  intention  of 
Congress  to  render  impartial  justice,  and  always  to 
honor,  promote,  and  reward  merit.  And  as  to  my- 
self, that  I  might  depend  on  receiving  a  very  agree- 
able appointment  soon  after  my  return  to  Boston  ; 
and,  until  I  was  perfectly  satisfied  respecting  my 
rank,  I  should  ha.ve  a  separate  command.  I  returned 
to  Boston,  and  it  was  not  long  before  I  received 
orders  to  proceed  to  Europe  to  command  the  great 
friofate  buildino:  at  Amsterdam,  for  the  United 
States ;  then  called  the  Indien,  and  since  the  South 
Carolina.  It  was  proposed  that  I  should  proceed  to 
France  in  a  ship  belonging  to  that  kingdom  ;  but, 
some  difficulties  arising,  the  sloop  of  war  Hanger,  of 
eighteen  guns,  was  put  under  ray  command  for  that 
service,  and  to  serve  afterwards  as  a  tender  to  the 
Indien.  Political  reasons  defeated  the  plan,  after  I 
had  met  our  commissioners  at  Paris  agreeable  to 
their  order,  to  consult  on  the  ways  and  means  of 
carrying  it  into  execution.  I  returned  in  con- 
sequence to  Nantes,  and  reassumed  command  of  the 
Panger.  When  I  returned  from  Europe  and  my 
sovereis^n  told  the  world  that  some  of  mv  militarv 
conduct  on  the  coast  of  Enoland  had  been  '  attended 
with  circumstances  so  brilliant  as  to  excite  general 
applause  and  admiration  ; '  when  the  honors  con- 
ferred on  me  by  his  most  Christian  Majesty  ;  to  wit, 
a  gold  sword,  on   which  is  impressed  the  highly 


APPENDIX.  393 

flattering  words,  '  Yindlcati  Maris  Ludoviciis 
XVL  Remunerator  Strenuo  Vindici,^  and  emblems 
of  the  alliance  between  the  United  States  and 
France,  accompanied  with  the  order  and  patent  of 
military  merit,  and  a  very  strong  and  particular 
letter  of  recommendation  to  Congress  in  my  behalf, 
were  declared  by  them  to  be  '  highly  acceptable  ' ; 
when  I  was  thought  worthy  of  a  vote  of  thanks  and 
general  approbation,  I  was  far  from  thinking  that 
such  pleasing  expressions  were  all  the  gratification 
I  had  to  expect.  The  committee  of  Congress  to 
whom  was  referred  my  general  examination  by 
the  Board  of  Admiralty,  with  the  report  of 
that  board  thereon,  were  of  opinion  that  I  had 
merited  a  gold  medal,  with  devices  declarative  of 
the  vote  of  thanks  which  I  had  received  from  the 
United  States  in  Congress  assembled.  And  I  was 
persuaded  that  I  should  also  be  promoted,  or  at 
least  restored  to  the  place  I  held  in  the  naval  line  of 
rank  in  the  year  1775.  I  waited  patiently  for  some 
time  ;  but  nothing  was  done  on  either  of  these  sub- 
jects. Being  informed  by  some  members  of  Con- 
gress that  it  was  necessary  I  should  present  my  claim 
respecting  rank,  in  writing,  I  did  so  in  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  his  excellency  the  President  of  Congress, 
the  28th  of  May,  1781.  My  application  was  referred 
to  a  special  committee,  who,  as  I  have  been  informed 
by  one  of  its  members,  made  a  report  in  my  favor, 
and  gave  as  their  opinion  that  1  had  merited  to  be 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral.  Before  Con- 
gress had  taken  up  the  report  an  application  in  op- 


39i  APPENDIX. 

position  to  me  was  made  by  two  of  the  captains 
who  had  superseded  me.  Upon  this  the  report  was 
recommitted.  The  committee  once  more  reported 
in  my  favor  ;  but  without  giving  a  direct  opinion 
respecting  my  promotion  ;  and  recommended  the 
appointment  of  a  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy, 
as  may  be  seen  by  that  report ;  which,  on  account 
of  the  thinness  of  Congress,  was  on  the  24th  of 
August,  1781,  indorsed  ']^ot  to  be  acted  upon.' 
It  is,  however,  plain  it  was  intended  to  be  taken  up 
again  when  a  proper  opportunity  presented  itself ; 
otherwise  it  would  not  have  been  retained  on  the 
files  of  Congress.  This  appears  also  by  the  extract 
of  a  letter  which  I  wrote  from  I^ew  Hampshire,  and 
the  answer  that  I  received  from  the  Honorable  John 
Matthews,  Esq.,  who  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
respecting  the  honorary  medal,  and  a  member  of 
the  committee  on  my  rank.  While  my  claim  for 
rank  stood  recommitted  before  the  committee,  I  was 
unanimously  elected  by  ballot  in  Congress,  the  26th 
of  June,  1781,  to  command  the  America  of  74r  guns 
(and,  as  I  was  erroneously  informed,  ready  to  launch 
at  Portsmouth) ;  on  which  occasion  several  of  the 
members  of  Congress  told  me  as  their  opinion  that 
my  rank  was  thereby  settled  beyond  a  dispute ;  be- 
cause the  America  was  the  only  ship  in  the  service 
'  of  40  guns  and  upwards  ; '  and  Congress  had  re- 
solved that  captains  of  ships  of  40  guns  and  upwards 
should  rank  as  colonels,  and  captains  of  ships  be- 
tween 20  and  40  guns  as  lieutenant-colonels.  There 
appeared  so  much  reason  and  justice  in  that  opinion 


APPENDIX.  395 

that  I  was  then  and  am  still  inclined  to  believe  it 
was  not  without  good  foundation ;  for  certainly 
there  is  no  comparison  between  the  trust  reposed 
in  a  captain  of  the  line  and  a  captain  of  a  frigate  ; 
and,  except  in  England,  where  avarice  is  the  ruling 
principle  of  the  corps,  there  is  no  equality  between 
their  distinct  ranks.  A  captain  of  the  line  must  at 
this  day  be  a  tactician.  A  captain  of  a  cruising 
frigate  may  make  shift  without  ever  having  heard 
of  the  naval  tactic.  Until  I  arrived  in  France,  and 
became  acquainted  with  that  great  tactician  Count 
de  Orvilliers  and  his  judicious  assistant  the  Chevalier 
Dm  Pavillion,  who  each  of  them  honored  me  with 
instructions  respecting  the  science  of  governing  the 
operations  and  police  of  a  fleet,  I  confess  I  was 
not  sensible  how  ignorant  I  had  been  of  naval 
tactics. 

"  I  have  many  things  to  offer  respecting  the  forma- 
tion of  our  navy,  but  shall  reserve  my  observations 
upon  that  head  until  you  shall  have  leisure  to  attend 
to  them  and  require  them  of  me.  I  have  had  the  honor 
to  be  presented  with  copies  of  the  signals,  tactics, 
and  police,  that  have  been  adopted  under  the  different 
admirals  of  France  and  Spain  during  the  war ;  and  I 
have  in  my  last  campaign  seen  them  put  in  practise. 
While  I  was  at  Brest,  as  well  as  while  I  was  inspect- 
ing the  building  of  the  America,  as  I  had  furnished 
myself  with  good  authors,  I  applied  much  of  my 
leisure  time  to  the  study  of  naval  architecture  and 
other  matters,  that  relate  to  the  establishment  and 
police  of  dockyards,  etc.     (I,  however,  feel  myself 


396  APPENDIX. 

bound  to  say  again,  I  have  yet  much  need  to  be  in. 
structed.)  But  if,  such  as  I  am,  it  is  thought  I  can 
be  useful  in  the  formation  of  the  future  marine  of 
America,  make  my  whole  honor,  and  I  am  so  truly 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States  that  I  will  cheerfully 
do  my  best  to  eifect  that  great  object.  It  was  my 
fortune,  as  the  senior  of  the  first  lieutenants,  to 
hoist  the  flag  of  America  the  first  time  it  was  dis- 
played. Though  this  was  but  a  light  circumstance, 
yet  I  feel  for  its  honor  more  than  I  think  I  should 
have  done  if  it  had  not  happened.  I  drew  my  sword 
at  the  beginning,  not  after  having  made  sinister 
conditions,  but  purely  from  principle  in  the  glorious 
cause  of  freedom ;  which  I  hope  has  been  amply 
evinced  by  my  conduct  during  the  Revolution.  1  hope 
I  shall  be  pardoned  in  sa^ang  it  will  not  be  expected, 
after  having  fought  and  bled  for  the  purpose  of 
contributing  to  make  millions  happy  and  free,  that 
I  should  remain  miserable  and  dishonored  bv  beino: 
superseded  without  an}^  just  cause  assigned.  Permit 
me  now,  sir,  to  draw  your  particular  attention  to 
the  following  points :  1st,  By  virtue  of  my  commis- 
sion as  the  senior  of  the  first  lieutenants  of  the 
American  navy,  I  stand  next  in  rank  to  Captain 
Abraham  Whipple,  who  is  the  only  one  of  my  senior 
oiRcers  now  remainino:  in  the  service.  2dlv,  Bv- 
the  commission  as  captain  under  the  United  States, 
which  1  received  from  the  hands  of  President  Han- 
cock at  the  door  of  the  chamber  of  Congress,  dated 
the  8th  day  of  August,  1776,  I  am  entitled  to  pre- 
cede all  the  captains  whose  commissions  under  the 


APPENDIX.  397 

United  States  are  dated  the  10th  day  of  October 
following.  Sdly,  My  right  of  precedence  is  confirmed 
by  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  26th  of  June,  1781, 
appointing  me  to  the  command  of  the  America  of 
7-1  guns,  Congress  having  previously  resolved  that 
captains  of  ships  of  40  guns  and  upwards  should 
rank  as  colonels,  and  that  captains  of  ships  from  40 
down  to  20  guns  should  rank  only  as  lieutenant- 
colonels.  I  will  at  present  say  nothing  of  those 
pretensions  which  the  favorable  notice  and  recom- 
mendation of  his  most  Christian  Majesty  might  en- 
courage me  to  form,  and  which  have  hitherto  proved 
so  fruitless  to  me,  though  similar  recommendations 
from  Congress  to  that  monarch  have  proved  so  effi- 
cacious in  favor  of  those  who  were  honored  with 
them.  Though  I  have  only  memtioned  two  tilings 
that  afflict  me,  i.  e.,  the  delay  of  a  decision  respecting 
my  rank  and  the  honorary  medal,  yet  I  have  met 
with  many  other  humiliations  in  the  service  that  I 
have  borne  in  silence.  I  will  just  mention  one  of 
them.  When  the  America  was  presented  to  his 
most  Christian  Majesty,  I  presume  it  would  not  have 
been  inconsistent  with  that  act  of  my  sovereign,  if 
it  had  mentioned  my  name.  Such  little  attentions  to 
the  military  pride  of  officers  are  always  of  use  to  a 
state,  and  cost  nothing.  In  the  present  instance  it 
could  have  been  no  displeasing  circumstance,  but  the 
contrary,  to  a  monarch  who  condescends  to  honor  me 
with  his  attention.  I  appeal  to  yourself,  sir,  whether, 
after  being  unanimously  elected  to  command  the 
first  and  only  American  ship  of  the  line,  my  con- 


398  APPENDIX. 

duct,  for  more  than  sixteen  months  while  inspecting 
her  building  and  launching,  had  mei'ited  only  such 
cold  neglect  ?  When  the  America  was  taken  from 
me,  I  was  deprived  of  my  tenth  command. 

"  Will  posterity  believe  that  out  of  this  number 
the  sloop-of-war  Kanger  was  the  best  I  was  ever 
enabled  by  my  country  to  bring  into  actual  service  ? 
If  I  have  been  instrumental  in  giving  the  American 
flag  some  reputation  and  making  it  respectable 
among  European  nations,  will  3^ou  permit  me  to  say 
that  it  is  not  because  I  have  been  honored  by  my 
country  either  with  proper  means  or  proper  encour- 
agement. I  cannot  conclude  this  letter  without  re- 
minding you  of  the  insult  offered  to  the  flag  of 
America  by  the  court  of  Denmark;  in  giving  up 
to  England,  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1779,  two 
large  letter-of-marque  ships  (the  one  the  Union, 
from  London,  the  other  the  Betsy,  from  Liverpool), 
that  had  entered  the  port  of  Bergen,  in  I^orway,  as 
my  prizes.  Those  two  ships  mounted  22  guns  each, 
and  were  valued,  as  I  have  been  told,  at  sixteen  hun- 
dred thousand  livres  Tournois.  I  acquit  mj^self  of 
my  duty  by  giving  you  this  information,  now  when 
the  sovereignty  and  independence  of  America  is  ac- 
knowledged by  Great  Britain ;  and  I  trust  that  Con- 
gress will  now  demand  and  obtain  proper  acknowl- 
edgments and  full  restitution  from  the  court  of 
Denmark. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

"  J.  Paul  Jones." 


APPENDIX,  399 

(Copy  of  a  report  of  a  committee  on  Captain  Paul 
Jones'  letter  and  others.  Indorsed  "  August  2tttb, 
1781,  not  to  be  acted  upon.") 

"  The  committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  ap- 
plication of  Captain  John  Paul  Jones ;  and  also  the 
applications  of  Captain  James  Nicholson  and  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Reed,  beg  leave  to  report, 

"  That  by  an  arrangement  of  the  captains  of  the 
navy  which  was  adopted  by  Congress  on  the  tenth 
day  of  October,  a.  d.  177G,  Captain  James  Nichol- 
son was  placed  first  in  rank,  Captain  Thomas  Reed 
eighth,  and  Captain  John  Paul  Jones  the  eighteenth. 

"The  committee  cannot  fully  ascertain  the  rule 
by  which  that  arrangement  was  made,  as  the  relative 
rank  was  not  conformable  to  the  times  of  appoint- 
ment or  dates  of  commission,  and  seems  repugnant 
to  a  resolution  of  Congress,  of  the  22d  of  December, 
1775.  It  appears  that  Captains  Whipple,  Barry, 
Hollock,  and  Alexander  were  appointed  captains 
previous  to  either  of  the  applicants ;  Captain  Nichol- 
son was  later  than  either,  excepting  Reed ;  but 
Captain  Nicholson  had  a  command  of  armed  vessels 
under  the  authority  of  the  state  of  Maryland,  prior 
to  his  being  adopted  in  the  continental  navy.  It  is, 
therefore,  to  be  presumed  that  preference  was  given 
to  him  on  that  account.  Upon  the  whole,  the  com- 
mittee submit  to  Congress  whether  it  will  be  advis- 
able to  alter  that  arrangement?  If  they  should, 
Captain  Jones  will  now  stand  the  fifth  captain,  if 
respect  be  had  only  to  times  of  appointment  in  that 
grade ;  but  if  regard  be  had  to  Captain  Jones'  being 


400  APPENDIX. 

a  lieutenant  in  the  navy  prior  to  the  appointment 
of  many  of  the  other  gentlemen,  he  would  then  stand 
second  in  the  rank  of  captains,  and  Whipple  first. 

"  The  committee  also  recommend  to  Congress  the 
expediency  of  appointing  a  commander  in-chief-of 
the  navy,  in  the  place  of  the  late  Ezek.  Hopkins, 
Esq.,  dismissed." 


No.  11. 


In  the  early  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war  the 
maritime  flag  seems  to  have  been  either  the  coat-of- 
arms  of  the  respective  colonies  under  whose  author- 
ity vessels  were  equipped,  or  to  have  depended  upon 
the  w^him  or  fancy  of  the  commanding  officer.  Thus 
the  brig  Yankee  Hero,  of  Marblehead,  captured, 
after  an  obstinate  engagement  by  the  Milford  frig- 
ate, bore  a  pine  tree  in  a  white  field ;  and  several 
fitted  out  from  New  York  bore  a  black  beaver. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1776,  thirteen  months 
after  Manly  had  been  scouring  the  ocean  under  the 
authority  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  "  Colonel 
Gadsden  presented  to  Congress  an  elegant  standard, 
such  as  is  to  be  used  by  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  American  navy ;  being  a  yellow  field  with  a 
lively  representation  of  a  rattlesnake  in  the  attitude 
of  going  to  strike,  and  these  words  underneath, 
*  Don't  tread  on  me.' "  This  was  doubtless  the 
strano^e  flao:  of  which  an  En  owlish  writer  of  that 
period  speaks  in  the  following  words :  "  A  strange 


APPENDIX.  401 

flag  has  lately  appeared  in  our  seas,  bearing  a  pine 
tree  with  the  portraiture  of  a  rattlesnake  coiled  up 
at  its  roots,  with  these  daring  words  :  '  Don't  tread 
on  me.'  We  learn  that  tlie  vessels  bearing  this  flair 
have  a  sort  of  commission  from  a  society  of  people 
at  Philadelphia,  calling  themselves  the  Continental 
Congress." 


No.  III. 


The  following  letter  is  without  date,  and  the  ad- 
dress is  torn  off.     It  is  an  interesting  fragment. 

"...  Count  d'Estaing,  the  king  never  had  a 
subject  who  loved  him  better;  who  has  a  nobler 
mind,  or  who  is  a  more  w^orthy  citizen.  Though 
vice-admiral  of  France  (the  only  officer  of  that  high 
rank  who  has  served  in  the  late  war),  he  was  sent  out 
to  America  with  no  more  than  the  command  of  a  Chief 
d'Escadre ;  and  from  three  to  four  months  after  I 
had  giv^en  the  minister  of  marine  the  plan  of  that 
expedition.  I  gave  the  plan  the  10th  of  Februarv, 
1778.  That  long  and  unnecessary  delay  rendered 
it  scarcely  possible  for  the  expedition  to  succeed. 
Yet  this  was  no  fault  of  the  vice-admiral ;  who,  on  the 
contrary,  deserves  the  highest  praise  for  his  zeal 
and  perseverance.  He  would  have  surmounted 
every  difficulty  and  taken  Lord  Howe  in  the  road 
of  [N'ew  York  if  a  generous  sacrifice  of  his  own  for- 
tune, 150,000  liv.,  could  have  induced  the  pilot  to 

conduct  him  over  the  bar. 
?6 


402  APPENDIX. 

"The  captains  who  were  about  him  were  con- 
stantly in  cabal  to  frustrate  his  projects,  and  never 
approached  him  with  their  advice,  but  with  a  re- 
volting impertinence  which  is  highly  culpable  in  the 
mouth  of  subalterns  when  they  speak  to  their  chief. 
The  admiral  had  proof  that  those  men  had  done  all 
in  their  power,  by  letters  to  court  and  otherwise, 
to  ruin  him.  Carte  hlanche  was  sent  him  to  pun- 
ish them  at  his  pleasure.  But  he  contented  himself 
with  showing  them  that  he  was  too  noble-minded  to 
avail  himself  of  his  power.  He  gave  them  every 
opportunity  of  distinguishing  their  zeal  for  their 
country,  and  always  rendered  ample  justice  to  their 
good  character.  The  taking  of  Grenada  is  a  mili- 
tary achievement  greater  than  an\^  other  admiral 
can  boast  of  in  the  course  of  the  last  war ;  but  if 

Count  de  G had  supported  his  admiral  in   the 

engagement  with  Bj^ron,  it  would  have  been  the 
most  glorious  affair  for  the  flag  of  France  that  ever 
happened.  If  the  admiral  did  not  succeed  at  Savan- 
nah, it  must  be  attributed  to  invincible  difficulties. 
!N"o  other  man  in  his  place  would  have  succeeded. 
He  had  been  misinformed  respecting  the  badness  of 
the  coast,  where  his  fleet  were  obliged  to  remain  at 
anchor  far  from  the  land  in  the  open  sea,  far  from 
every  resource  of  provisions,  wood,  or  water.  He 
had  been  misinformed  respecting  the  length  and  shal- 
lowness of  the  river,  the  strength  of  the  place,  and  the 
force  of  the  enemy.  "When  he  summoned  Savannah 
to  surrender  he  had  not  above  a  fourth  part  of  his 
troops  landed,  and  he  had  with  him  neither  mortars 


APPENDIX.  403 

nor  battering  cannon.  He  found  the  enemy  much 
stronger  than  he  had  expected  ;  and  it  was  a  stratagem 
of  war  that  might  have  succeeded  ;  for  he  was  certain 
that  the  enemy  did  not  know  that  he  was  not  of  suffi- 
cient force  to  put  his  threat  in  execution.  No  fault 
can  be  found  with  his  conduct  on  that  expedition,  ex- 
cept it  be  said  that  it  was  wrong  to  give  the  enemy  so 
long  time  as  two  days  to  make  his  capitulation. 
But  to  this  it  may  be  answered,  that  the  admiral 
could  not  possibly  be  ready  in  a  shorter  time  to  assault 
the  place,  which  was  so  strongly  reinforced  in  the 
interim  that  an  assault  must  have  failed.  A  sieofe, 
therefore,  became  indispensable.  This  required 
much  more  time ;  but  there  is  reason  to  believe  it 
would  have  succeeded  if  the  admiral  had  not  been 
so  dangerously  wounded  when  he  stormed  the  place 
after  having  made  a  practicable  breach  ;  for  some  of 
the  Americans  had  got  possession  of  a  commanding 
bastion  before  the  retreat  was  ordered.  In  war  the 
force  must  be  very  superior  that  can  insure  success. 
And  even  a  superior  force  may  fail  through  circum- 
stances, without  anv  reflection  on  the  commander. 
But  Count  d'Estaing  deserved  success ;  and  he  can  say 
what  no  other  man  can  do  who  served  through  all 
the  last  'war :  '  He  has  had  no  advancement,  his 
wounds  are  his  honors ;  and  the  public  esteem  his 
reward.' 

"  History  says  that  France  has  no  officer  whom 
England  fears  so  much. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc., 

*'  Paul  Jones," 


404  APPENDIX. 


No.  lY. 


I  find  among  the  papers  before  me  a  draft  from 
the  board  of  treasury,  dated  May  9th,  for  181,039 
livres,  1  sol,  and  10  deniers,  in  favor  of  Mr.  Jefferson, 
expressed  to  be  for  "  moneys  received  by  you  from 
the  treasury  of  the  marine  of  the  port  of  L' Orient, 
on  account  of  prize  money  due  to  the  frigate  Al- 
liance, and  the  American  officers  and  sailors  em- 
ployed under  your  command,  conformably  to  your 
two  receipts  of  the  18th  August,  and  5th  September, 
1785,  transmitted  to  the  department  of  foreign 
affairs,  for  which  payment  this  shall  be  your  suffi- 
cient voucher."  On  the  back  is  Mr.  Jefferson's 
receipt,  as  follows  :  "  Received  from  Commodore 
Paul  Jones,  one  hundred  and  twelve  thousand  one 
hundred  and  seventy-two  livres,  two  sols,  and  four 
deniers,  paid  by  him  to  Mr.  Grand,  as  the  balance 
of  the  sum  mentioned  in  the  annexed  bill  of  the 
treasury,  according  to  Commodore  Jones'  account, 
to  be  submitted  to  Congress.  Paris,  12th  July,  1786. 
Th.  Jefferson."  Jones'  account  was  as  follows  ;  in- 
dorsed thus  in  Mr.  Jefferson's  handwriting:  "Paris, 
in  the  kingdom  of  France,  to  wit  :  The  within- 
named  John  Paul  Jones  made  oath  before  me  on 
the  holy  evangelists,  that  his  ordinary  expenses 
since  his  arrival  in  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
covering the  prize  money,  as  within  stated,  have 
amounted  to  forty- seven  thousand  nine  hundred  and 


APPENDIX.  406 

seventy-two  livres,  eleven  sous  tournois.  Given 
under  my  hand  the  fifth  day  of  August,  1786. 
Th.  Jefferson." 

"  Amount  of  prize  money  belonging  to  the  Amer- 
ican part  of  the  crew  of  the  Bonhomme  Eichard 
(and  to  some  few  foreigners,  whose  names  and  qual- 
ities, etc.,  are  inserted  in  the  roll),  with  the  amount, 
also,  of  the  prize  money  belonging  to  the  crew  of 
the  Alliance  ;  received  at  L'Orient,  by  order  of  the 
Mar6chal  de  Castries,  in  bills  on  Paris. 


From  which  deduct,  viz. 

Net  amount  of  my  ordinary  ex- 
penses since  I  arrived  in  Europe  to 
settle  the  prize  money  belonging  to 
the  citizens  and  subjects  of  Amer- 
ica, wlio  served  on  board  the  squad- 
ron I  commanded,  under  tlie  flag  of 
the  United  States,  at  the  expense  of 
his  most  Christian  Majesty,  stated 
to  his  excellency  Thomas  Jefferson, 
Esq.,  the  4th  of  this  month,  47,972  11    0 

Paid  the  draft  of  M.  le  Jeune,  for 
the  amount  of  prize  money  due  to 
Jacviue  Tual,  pilot  of  the  Alliance,        670  13    6 

Amount  of  prize  money  paid  M. 
de  Blondel,  lieutenant  of  marines 
of  the  Pallas,  as  stated  on  the  roll 
of  the  Bonhomme  Richard.  283  00    0 

Advances  made  to  sundry  per- 
sons, which  stand  at  my  credit  on 
the  roll  of  the  Bonhomme  Richard,       264  09    6 

Advances  made  by  me  to  sundry 
persons  belonging  to  the  Bon- 
homme Richard :  those  advances 
do  not  stand  at  my  credit  on  the 
roll  settled  at  L'Orient,  by  M.  le 
Jeune,  because  the  commissary  had 
neglected  to  send  him  the  original 
roll  from  the  bureau  at  Versailles, 


Livres.  S.  D. 
181,039  01  10 


406  APPENDIX. 

but  the  commissary  has  rectified 
that  omission,  by  his  certificates, 
dated  September  5th,  1785,  and 
February  22d,  1786,  ^       6,385  00    0 

My  share,  by  the  roll,  as  captain 
of  the  Bonhomme  Richard,  13,291    5    6 

68,866  19    6 

112,172    2    4 
"  Paul  Jones. 
"Paris,  Jt«?2/7, 1786." 

On  transmitting  his  statement  of  the  account  to 
Mr.  Jefferson,  Jones  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  and  submit  to  your 
consideration  the  account  I  have  stated  of  the  prize 
money  in  my  hands,  with  sundry  papers  that  regard 
the  charges,  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  lessen  the 
dividend  of  the  American  captors  by  making  any 
charge  either  for  my  time  or  trouble.  I  lament 
that  it  has  not  yet  been  in  my  power  to  procure  for 
them  advantages  as  solid  and  as  extensive  as  the 
merit  of  their  services.  I  would  not  have  under- 
taken this  business  from  any  views  of  private  emolu- 
ment that  could  possibly  have  resulted  from  it  to 
myself,  even  supposing  I  had  recovered  or  should  re- 
cover a  sum  more  considerable  than  the  penalty  of  my 
bond.  But  I  was  anxious  to  force  some  ill-natured 
persons  to  acknowledge  that,  if  they  did  not  tell  a 
wilful  falsehood,  they  were  mistaken  when  they  as- 
serted that  I  had  commanded  a  squadron  of  priva- 
teers. And,  the  war  being  over,  I  made  it  my  first 
care  to  show  the  brave  instruments  of  my  success 
that  their  rights  are  as  dear  to  me  as  my  own.    It 


APPENDIX.  407 

will,  I  believe,  be  proper  for  me  to  make  oath  be- 
fore you  to  the  amount  charged  for  my  ordinary 
expenses.  I  flatter  myself  that  you  will  find  no  ob- 
jection to  the  account  as  I  have  stated  it,  and  that 
you  are  of  the  opinion  that,  after  this  settlement 
has  been  made  between  us,  my  bond  ought  to  stand 
canceled  as  far  as  regards  my  transactions  with 
the  court  of  France.  Should  any  part  of  the  prize 
money  remain  in  the  treasury  without  being  claimed 
after  sufiicient  time  shall  be  elapsed,  I  beg  leave  to 
submit  to  you,  to  the  treasury,  and  to  Congress, 
whether  I  have  not  merited  by  my  conduct  since  I 
returned  to  Europe  that  such  remainder  should  be 
disposed  of  in  my  favor  ?  " 

THE  END. 


